12-09-2008, 02:10 PM
Raikkonen extends Ferrari deal to 2010<!--sizec--><!--/sizec-->
Ferrari has announced that Kimi Raikkonen will stay with the team for the next two seasons - ending speculation that the reigning champion is on the brink of retirement. Raikkonen's future had been a hot topic in the paddock all summer, with his disappointing performances this year fuelling rumours that he would quit the sport at the end of 2009 - or even after at the end of this season. Fernando Alonso was widely assumed to be waiting in the wings to take the Ferrari seat whenever Raikkonen departed. However today's surprise announcement just before second practice means that Ferrari will retain the Raikkonen and Felipe Massa partnership for at least two more years, with Massa having been re-signed through 2010 last autumn.
"Ferrari announces that it has extended its agreement with Kimi Raikkonen to the end of the 2010 race season," said a team statement.
"Therefore, the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver line-up remains unchanged for the next two coming seasons."
Raikkonen, who has not won a race since the Spanish Grand Prix in April, had always played down speculation about his future plans. In an interview with the official Formula 1 website this week, he insisted he was extremely happy at Ferrari.
"I enjoy being here and I had a fantastic time last year - when I joined last season, I had more fun than I have had in a long time," said Raikkonen.
"It is a great place to be, working with all these 120 percent-committed people.
"And red suits me, I would say."
The Finn joined Ferrari at the start of 2007, replacing Michael Schumacher, after five seasons at McLaren, and went on to dramatically snatch his first world title in a final round showdown with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
Fonte: ITV F1
Ferrari has announced that Kimi Raikkonen will stay with the team for the next two seasons - ending speculation that the reigning champion is on the brink of retirement. Raikkonen's future had been a hot topic in the paddock all summer, with his disappointing performances this year fuelling rumours that he would quit the sport at the end of 2009 - or even after at the end of this season. Fernando Alonso was widely assumed to be waiting in the wings to take the Ferrari seat whenever Raikkonen departed. However today's surprise announcement just before second practice means that Ferrari will retain the Raikkonen and Felipe Massa partnership for at least two more years, with Massa having been re-signed through 2010 last autumn.
"Ferrari announces that it has extended its agreement with Kimi Raikkonen to the end of the 2010 race season," said a team statement.
"Therefore, the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver line-up remains unchanged for the next two coming seasons."
Raikkonen, who has not won a race since the Spanish Grand Prix in April, had always played down speculation about his future plans. In an interview with the official Formula 1 website this week, he insisted he was extremely happy at Ferrari.
"I enjoy being here and I had a fantastic time last year - when I joined last season, I had more fun than I have had in a long time," said Raikkonen.
"It is a great place to be, working with all these 120 percent-committed people.
"And red suits me, I would say."
The Finn joined Ferrari at the start of 2007, replacing Michael Schumacher, after five seasons at McLaren, and went on to dramatically snatch his first world title in a final round showdown with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
Fonte: ITV F1