The Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN Formula One Team has released the following statement following the news from Kimi Raikkonen on Wednesday evening that following 20 seasons in Formula One he will retire from the sport at the end of the season.
Raikkonen made his Grand Prix debut with the Sauber F1 Team in 2001 before moving to McLaren in 2002.
In a statement, Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN said:
The team wishes Kimi all the best for an incredibly well-deserved retirement, in the knowledge that he and his family will greatly enjoy his presence at home after the final chequered flag in Abu Dhabi. In the meantime, we are looking forward to a successful conclusion of the 2021 season together, to bring such an illustrious career to the ending it deserves.
Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal of the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN Formula One Team commented saying:
There isn’t any driver out there like Kimi Räikkönen. His presence, his charisma and his unique attitude, matched with the innate skill that made this team give him a chance back in 2001, have made him a legend of our sport in a way which numbers and statistics struggle to convey. It was a pleasure to work with him in these years and I believe I speak on behalf of everyone at Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN, from the shop floor in Hinwil to the garage here in Zandvoort, when I say a driver like Kimi has written some indelible pages of our team’s, and our sport’s, history.”