Raikkonen already knew in March that he would quit F1 after 2021

81cd8e8ddd9604ff23b10494bb1398f4bdd777ec

17:20, 19 Dec 2021

Kimi Raikkonen has driven his last miles in Formula 1. The Finn announced halfway through 2021 that he would hang up his helmet after this season. However, it now appears that Raikkonen knew he would stop much earlier.

Raikkonen has become a true Formula 1 icon. The Finn became World Champion with Ferrari in 2007 and has achieved a total of 21 victories. He is also the record holder of the most race starts with a total of 349.

Raikkonen already knew in March that he would retire

On September 1, 2021, Raikkonen announced that he would not continue in Formula 1 in 2022. The 42-year old driver knew for a long time that he was entering his last season. During the first weekend of the season in Bahrain, the drivers were asked to make some predictions for 2021.

Raikkonen was very secretive about what he wrote on his card and said that the envelope should not be opened until they were in Abu Dhabi. His second prediction was: "My favorite race will be Abu Dhabi, because it is my last race in Formula One."

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	179
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	154
3	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	147
4	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	108
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	97
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	82
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	76
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	52
9	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	42
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	39
11	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	20
12	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
13	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	18
14	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	6
15	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
16	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
17	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
18	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	1
19	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
20	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
21	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

Raikkonen already knew in March that he would quit F1 after 2021

Raikkonen already knew in March that he would retire

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