Ferrari has put a quick end to the speculation surrounding Kimi Raikkonen’s future at Maranello by announcing that the Finn will drive alongside Sebastian Vettel during the 2017 Formula One season.
Poised to make his 100th start with the Scuderia at this weekend’s British Grand Prix, Raikkonen remains Ferrari’s most recent F1 champion, winning the title in 2007. After a challenging season in 2015, the 36-year-old has been more competitive this year and is currently level with Vettel in the standings on 96 points with four podiums.
Having made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2001, Raikkonen joined McLaren the following year and spent five seasons at Woking, taking nine victories and fighting for the world championship in 2003 and 2005.
The Finn then moved to Ferrari in 2007, a season that saw him win six grands prix to seal the crown.The next two years would prove more challenging with Raikkonen only taking a trio of victories before retiring temporarily at the end of the 2009 campaign.
After trying his hand at NASCAR and WRC, he came back to F1 with Lotus in 2012. A pair of strong seasons at Enstone yielded two more wins and more podium finishes, thus paving the way for Raikkonen’s return to Ferrari in 2014.
A 20-time grand prix winner, Raikkonen has made 240 F1 starts and is the oldest driver on the grid. 2017 will be his third year partnering Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari, with the pair enjoying a healthy relationship that factored in Maranello's decision to extend the Finn's contract.
Chris Medland's 2016 British Grand Prix preview
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