SM
Ipswich vs. Man United: 21 hrs 7 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Friend admits Raikkonen's retirement is looming

:Headline: Friend admits Raikkonen's retirement is looming : ID:410388: from db_amp
The signs are growing stronger that 2020 may turn out to be Kimi Raikkonen's eighteenth and final season in Formula 1.

The signs are growing stronger that 2020 may turn out to be Kimi Raikkonen's eighteenth and final season in Formula 1.

The 2007 world champion is now regularly among the very slowest drivers in the field, as Ferrari-powered Alfa Romeo openly struggles with its 2020 car.

And Raikkonen's long-time racing driver friend Toni Vilander, who is linked with Ferrari through GT racing, is suddenly admitting that the 40-year-old's motivation is finally fading.

"He has said several times that he wouldn't be in F1 unless it was something very important to him," Vilander told the Finnish broadcaster C More.

"But now he is in a difficult situation. Running around at the back, fighting with Latifi and Russell - it doesn't motivate Kimi very much. That's the difficult thing here," he explained.

"If he drove for points and he could battle in qualifying, then Kimi would still be very motivated and do his best to keep going for another season. But now things must be assessed from a slightly different perspective," said Vilander.

However, Vilander admits that Raikkonen is unlikely to be musing about his future too openly in public.

"Kimi is a strange bird of Formula 1," he said. "Usually, drivers of Kimi's status wonder about the right solution and what others think of it. Kimi doesn't think like that at all.

"He makes his own decision. The first person he consults is probably (wife) Minttu."

What Vilander is sure about is that Raikkonen won't quit mid-season.

"No, Kimi wouldn't do that," he said. "He is a professional and will drive what has been agreed. It's not part of the Finnish character to throw the towel into the ring," Vilander is also quoted by Ilta Sanomat newspaper.

"But I know that Kimi is horribly frustrated, and that's the problem. It's hard for him to dig up the motivation if there is not even a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel."

amp_article__410388 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-08-15 09:01:23:
html db last update - 2020-08-15 09:01:23 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Kimi Raikkonen

Click here for more stories about Ferrari

Share this article now:
Read more about Kimi Raikkonen Formula 1
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
7Aston Villa125431919019
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Fulham125341717018
10Brentford125252222017
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .