Kimi will push the Alfa around tracks in 2021. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/152627/raikkonen-set-to-extend-career-with-alfa-romeo
https://www.planetf1.com/news/kimi-raikkonen-alfa-romeo-future/ Kimi Raikkonen has again straight-batted suggestions that he has agreed to ‘mentor’ Mick Schumacher at Alfa Romeo next season. Reports have suggested the flying Finn has committed to a third year with Alfa Romeo and, as the most experienced racer in Formula 1, will partner a driver at the opposite end of the spectrum – namely the son of Michael Schumacher, the seven-time World Champion. Speculation was inevitably rife at the Nurburgring on the eve of Mick Schumacher’s debut driving a contemporary F1 car on a race weekend, the Alfa Romeo in FP1 for the Eifel Grand Prix with Antonio Giovinazzi temporarily standing aside. However, there was no confirmation forthcoming from Raikkonen in his media interviews, maintaining his previous stance that no decision had been made on his side about whether to extend his F1 career or head into retirement at the end of this season. “I don’t know what will happen, I haven’t signed anything yet and it still hasn’t been decided,” Raikkonen told Ted Kravitz of Sky Sports. “First that needs to be decided. It’s nothing to do with me who’s driving the other car, so we’ll see.”
A wise, non-Kimi, athlete once said: "there are only so many years in which a man can do this." Were I Kimi, I think I'd hang on for as long as I could, even in a pig Alfa.
Eventual those returns diminish and it simply is work. He should move on in life and leave the midfield to young developers.
He's doing great in that car and seems to be enjoying himself. He's a world champion and certainly earned the right to stay in F1 so long he enjoys himself and keeps getting job offers.
He also lives very close to Sauber, which means he travels less than the other drivers and it's good when you have kids: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/47.2062245,8.5195328/Sauber+Motorsport+AG,+Wildbachstrasse,+Hinwil,+Switzerland/@47.310729,8.485474,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x479ab97fb09872bb:0x1d5fcc95843291cf!2m2!1d8.816949!2d47.308125!3e0
It certainly looks *STRIKINGLY* similar to photos Kimi's thrown on IG and in his IG stories. In my field we'd call that "assessed with medium-to-high confidence"
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Look at it this way: what is he going to do with the rest of his life? I doubt he has other interests apart from racing.
He's also expressed interest in Le Mans ''but not in the passengers cars you drive'' (to his friend toni villander, who races the GTE Ferrari's)
His wife will provide some suggestions lol. He had his time in F 1. I would release him and provide opportunity to talent young that needs to grow and be evaluated.
Other than participating--one can hardly say he has an interest in racing--cue Kimi's facial expression versus mood.
"Bwoah... I-guess-I-should-say-thanks-but-I-don't-care-about-birthdays-it's-just-another-day-for-me." At least, that's what I can imagine him saying. All the best, Andrew.
His seat is wasted. Yes he is semi interesting. His best days are gone. Move on in life. He is keeping a seat from others who need to chase their dreams and appear talented. Why have driver development if 40year old non challengers are simply driving in circles.
The problem is that the guy who supposedly was the talent of the future, Giovinazzi, isn't clearly outperforming him, and Alfa Romeo needs points. And Raikkonen also brings exposure. If Schumacher Jr. delivers (the exposure is granted) then there would be a reason to drop Raikkonen and bring Illot, Schwarzmann or whoever.
