Kimi Raikkonen not ruled out continuing in Formula 1 into 2022

Kimi Raikkonen

Raikkonen not ruled out continuing in Formula 1 into 2022

The Finn is out of contract with Alfa Romeo at the end of the year

Ian Parkes & Sam Hall

Thursday 2 July 2020 16:02 Updated: 16:47

Kimi Raikkonen has indicated he may consider remaining in Formula 1 into the new era of aerodynamic regulations to be introduced in 2022.

Raikkonen, who made his F1 race debut in 2001, heads into the 2020 season with 312 race starts to his name, a total only 10 fewer than record appearance holder Rubens Barrichello.

The introduction of a radically revised set of aerodynamic rules from 2022 would appear to mark a good jumping-off point for the Finn, but Alfa Romeo driver Raikkonen sees things differently.

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Asked if the changes had affected his decision-making process, speaking in the FIA drivers' press conference at the Red Bull Ring ahead of the season-opening race in Austria, the 40-year-old said: "No it hasn't.

“Obviously, that’s how it’s going to be with the rules and everything, but it doesn’t really dictate what happens in the future.

“I don’t know. I mean, we haven’t done a single race. Obviously, it’s a very odd situation this year so, let's wait and see what happens.”

With regard to the rule change, he added: “I wouldn’t say that they’re a lot different than what we had some years ago. Yes, they are regulation changes, but the driving part doesn’t change that much really.”

After leaving the front-running Ferrari team to join Alfa Romeo in 2019, a move that came as a surprise to some, Raikkonen could have been forgiven for finding the midfield fight less to his liking.

Asked directly whether he still garners enjoyment from competing in the sport, the Finn said: "If we do well, obviously it’s more fun than if we don’t do well, but we have no idea where we’re going to be, so we do our best and go home this week and work from there.

"The future will decide itself."

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