Kimi aiming to end career with Ferrari

World Champion Kimi Raikkonen suspects that he will never again be a feature of the F1 driver market.

The 28-year-old Finn has told a Spanish newspaper that he will more than likely end his career with Ferrari, either at the close of the 2009 season, or beyond.

"I see no reason to leave this team," Raikkonen told Marca at the Valencia tests this week.

He said: "I have two years remaining on my contract, but in any case I believe that, whatever happens, this will be my last team."

Raikkonen suggested that he does not fear life after Formula One.

"The one certainty is that one day I will feel the need to do something else. I would do a few rallies maybe, or something else - I don't know. I will do what I want, basically," he explained.


He refused to speculate as to when his retirement might beckon.

"I have no idea," said Raikkonen. "For the moment I am here and I have no intention to change that.

"When I end my contract with Ferrari I will be 30 years old, and it will be the time to decide whether to keep going or not."

Source GMM

 

Kimi will be 30 ears old when his contract ends. Still a young man, even for F1. I hope he is with the Scuderia, for a long time.

Ciao...Paolo

 

Thirty is half way dead in F1 and that's if you're good.

Look at Schumi and when his last championship was and the driving from him 6 years earlier, a huge difference.

 

i'm glad to hear he wants to stay with ferrari from now on. I'm sure even when he's 30 he'll sign another 1-3 year extension 30 is still just fine for an F1 driver Kimi just needs to step up his physical fitness a bit more and I doubt he'll have any issues.

 

It's good hear Kimi is willing to end his career at Ferrari. There must be something unique how Ferrari operates their team.

 

I would be surprised if he ends his career in 2009, he still has a few great years in him, unless his liver gives out.

 

Wow, when I read the headline here "Kimi aiming to end career with Ferrari" I thought the worst! I wondered why would he want to end it ! You guys have to be more careful, I could have had a heart attack

We know Ferrari is the top team to be with, regardless if they are winning. I bet LH and FA would love to be in red, regardless of what he says.

 

So just because his car was less competitive, you blame his age? Michael has been the same brilliant driver over the years. Look at his drive at the end of 06 at China and Brazil for examples, they were considered "master class" and everyone was raving that he was "still the best". People said what you're saying in 05, when the Ferrari was mediocre, but as soon as 06 came around and Michael was winning again, thanks to the Ferrari engineers, those people all shut up. It doesn't matter how brilliant you are, if there are several other cars on the grid that are significantly better than yous, and the drivers in those cars are quite good, then you can only hope they retire from the race, so you can make up the places.

 

All unbiased people will agree MS lost a step due to age. Yes he was fast but not the fastest. The car always plays a part and no matter what anyone says MS himself said when another driver beats him on a regular basis, he'll hang it up... and that's exactly what happened.

 

Yes, but Alonso wouldn't have beaten him if the Renault wasn't so good, right? So if Ferrari was still the best team, that statement wouldn't apply. Also, how can you accurately measure how much Michael lost? you claimed it was a "huge difference", but if it really was a "huge difference" then he'd be getting beaten by Massa. So ultimately Michael was still good enough to be considered the best, and still good enough to dominate, given the best car, so I cannot understand how you come to this conclusion. Perhaps it's due to some of this "bias" you've mentioned. *rolls eyes*

 

well, "Michael Schumacher" came to the conclusion that he wasn't fastest, so he retired...............how much more of an accurate measure do you want??

 

This is bollox, MS left not because he wanted to but because LM wanted Kimi and of course MS not wanting to race with KR he had to go. Had he had another year he would have won the DC and more easily than KR i'm sure. His testing times are still quicker than any other team member, yes I am biased cos Schuey was and is THE GREATEST

 

Unless Michael Schumacher walks to his door and the doors of others, they'll be dead set that there isn't any evidence of MS slowing down.

 

You can measure by him not tearing the butt off of everyone in every race.

I said it was a huge difference from his last championship win, from that time Massa was closer and Massa has improved his driving but he isn't and wasn't anywhere near MS's skills.

MS said it was time, he wasn't on the top rung anymore and hung up the shoes and gloves, as for proof, it's in black and white.

 

This is the most accurate statement on this thread. Schumacher proved he hasn't lost anything with his recent drive. 2005 and 2006 were tough years, but not because of MS slowing down, or Alonso being better. The car was real crap in 2005 even with Ross Brawn, and with a mediocre 2006 car the team suffered a serious setback in the spring of that year that set them back months. Schumacher's ability brought them back.

He retired for personal reasons, not because anyone forced him to leave, or he felt he was slowing down. With a bit a practice laps under his belt, he would still take the F2008 to the front row. There is absolutely no proof of any other reason for his retirement. He stated this reason himself. To think anything different is tantamount to National Enquirerer fiction.

In fact if you want proof, watch what he does when tests the F2008 during the year. He is still the fastest.

As for Kimi, he will renew his Ferrari contract for two years in 2009. Then he will retire and race snowmobiles under the name of James Hunt. Watch for a deal to bring Rosberg to Ferrari, or someone that has yet to make a name in F1.

 

Finally some common sense is spoken!

 

+1! Spot on Ron.

 

i hope Kimi retires around 33-35. perhaps, we'll have Vettel and Hulkenberg on board then?

 

I hope the Kimster stays with Ferrari for quiet a while so he can perhaps get everyone to shut up about Hamilton by showing him whos boss for a couple years.

 

Kimi may nab another title this year but Hamilton is going to win several WDCs by the time Kimi retires.