Raikkonen to drive Sauber in Abu Dhabi

Raikkonen to drive Sauber in Abu Dhabi

Martin Macdonald

Friday 23 November 2018 13:53

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Sauber chief Frederic Vasseur has confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen will test for the team for the first time since it was announced he would be joining from Ferrari for the 2019 season, with his outing in the car set to take place after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Raikkonen has drove for Ferrari over two spells and also claimed his one and only championship with the team, but the Scuderia made the decision during the summer to replace the Finn with wonderkid driver Charles Leclerc at the end of the current campaign.

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A swap deal was effectively agreed with Raikkonen moving Sauber, with whom he made his Formula 1 debut in 2001.

Vasseur revealed that Raikkonen would test out the Sauber car for the first time in 17 years in the annual post-season test at Yas Marina.

The 39-year-old remains the last Ferrari driver to win the world championship, but the change at the team was reportedly made by former CEO, Sergio Marchionne, who passed away during the summer.

The grid for the 2019 F1 season is looking significantly different already, as driver joining Raikkonen in performing for a new team include Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris, George Russell, Carlos Sainz, and more.

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