Kimi Raikkonen re-joins Sauber on a 2 year contract

Matthew Booth · Sep 11, 2018

The Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team is delighted to announce that Kimi Räikkönen will join the team from 2019. The 2007 Formula One World Champion has signed for the next two seasons.

In his career, Kimi Räikkönen has secured 20 Grands Prix wins and 100 podiums, making him one of the most highly regarded drivers in the history of the sport. The Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team looks forward to the arrival of the Finnish driver, with whom the team shares the common goal of achieving ambitious results.

Frédéric Vasseur, CEO of Sauber Motorsport and Team Principal of the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team:
“Signing Kimi Räikkönen as our driver represents an important pillar of our project, and brings us closer to our target of making significant progress as a team in the near future. Kimi’s undoubted talent and immense experience in Formula One will not only contribute to the development of our car, but will also accelerate the growth and development of our team as a whole. Together, we will start the 2019 season with a strong foundation, driven by the determination to fight for results that count.”

Source - Sauber F1 Team - https://www.sauberf1team.com/news/k...for-the-alfa-romeo-sauber-f1-team-from-2019-2

snyperal · Sep 11, 2018

And leclerc is joining vettel ... Next season is going to be interesting!

RichardHessels · Sep 11, 2018

snyperal said:
And leclerc is joining vettel ... Next season is going to be interesting!

That Le Clerq is joining Ferrari for 2019 is an even bigger headline than Kimi leaving.

gamer19 · Sep 11, 2018

Not a front RD page news hmm... well guess it doesn't deserve it.

snyperal · Sep 11, 2018

gamer19 said:
Not a front RD page news hmm... well guess it doesn't deserve it.

Give them time. I agree about leclerc promotion is bigger news than Kiki.

Benutzername · Sep 11, 2018

I did not expect that.

Turk · Sep 11, 2018

It makes sense to see Leclerk in a big team. Little surprised to see Kimi going to Sauber. Didn't think they could afford him and didn't think Kimi would like moving to a smaller team.

He could be the man to advance the team though.

NDG · Sep 11, 2018

snyperal said:
And leclerc is joining vettel ... Next season is going to be interesting!

Interesting for sure, but I don't think he is "a Vettel"... Too young, no proof, too early. At least Vettel won the only win for Torro Roso.. Much more interesting is if Russell replaces Bottas and well see some benchmarks. But I don't think it will happen anytime soon.

rubaru · Sep 11, 2018

I love the idea of someone so experienced at a lower team. I don't really know how well Kimi gets along with engineers, but I can only imagine good things forward from Sauber with a talent like his providing important feedback to improve the car.

As for Leclerc to Ferrari, I must say I'm concerned for him. He is trying to make a mark in F1, but he will be nothing but a wingman for Vettel. I feel like (not saying it's true that) Ferrari has picked Vettel as an obvious #1 Driver and everything the team does supports him. It won't be any different with Leclerc.

Turk · Sep 11, 2018

rubaru said:
As for Leclerc to Ferrari, I must say I'm concerned for him. He is trying to make a mark in F1, but he will be nothing but a wingman for Vettel. I feel like (not saying it's true that) Ferrari has picked Vettel as an obvious #1 Driver and everything the team does supports him. It won't be any different with Leclerc.

It's not like Vettel hasn't been usurped by a younger driver before.

I think the young fellows gain a distinct advantage in F1 by just being younger. They have slightly better reactions and they have a brain that's hardwired to take more risks. The older guys may have more experience but the younger lads have spent years racing and often winning in open wheelers by the time they get to F1. With F1 cars changing all the time any advantage gained from experience is diminished.