Kimi Räikkönen has announced his retirement from Formula One at the end of the 2021

Kimi Räikkönen, a former world champion, has announced that he will retire from Formula One at the end of the season. The 41-year-old, who won his lone drivers’ championship with Ferrari in 2007, has spent the last three years with Alfa Romeo and will retire from the sport after the calendar’s final race in Abu Dhabi in December.

Last year, the Finnish racer set a new record for the most Formula One starts, announcing in an Instagram post that he had made his decision a long time ago. “This is it. This will be my last season in Formula 1. This is a decision I did during last winter,” Raikkonen said.

“It was not an easy decision but after this season it is time for new things. Even though the season is still on, I want to thank my family, all my teams, everyone involved in my racing career and especially all of you great fans that have been rooting for me all this time.

“Formula One might come to an end for me but there is a lot more in life that I want to experience and enjoy. See you around after all of this! Sincerely Kimi.”

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Räikkönen debuted in Formula One in 2001 and was a title contender within two years, finishing second to Michael Schumacher before Fernando Alonso pipped him to the title in 2005. In the 2007 season, the Espoo-born driver finally had his crowning moment, defeating his previous team McLaren and their drivers Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton to win the world championship.

He finished third the following year, behind Hamilton and his Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa. After finishing sixth in 2009, he competed in the World Rally Championship before returning to Formula One.

Lotus offered the former world champion a ride, and Ferrari came calling again in 2014, with the Finn completing his career with the Italian team with a win at the US Grand Prix four years later, ending a 113-race wait for another victory.

Alfa Romeo ensured Räikkönen to continue his Formula One career well into his forties, with his 323rd start in the Eifel Grand Prix in October. He has subsequently increased his record to 341 points heading into this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, which marks the start of the Scandinavian’s home straight.