Raikkonen adamant Alonso return has no bearing on his future

Kimi Raikkonen is adamant the return of former rival Fernando Alonso has no bearing on his decision over whether to remain in Formula 1 into 2021.

Raikkonen set a new record in Sunday's Eifel Grand Prix at the Nürburgring when he made his 323rd start.

Should Raikkonen choose not to remain with Alfa Romeo for another season, that total is in danger of being toppled by Alonso as the Spaniard has 311 starts to his name ahead of driving for Alpine from 2021.

Whatever Raikkonen decides, his career has been a remarkable one considering he was criticised for lacking experience when he first joined F1 in 2001.

Questioned on his future and the progress being made, the 2007 world champion said: “Nothing has been decided so far.

"My career started having this inexperience and now I am getting too old so they [the critics] are trying to get rid of me. In the middle [of my career] it worked okay but now it is not for some people.

“We’ll see. Obviously, we have had some talks with the team and obviously, it’s nothing to do with Fernando coming back or not. It is my decision on that.”

The Finn, who claims to be in control over whether or not he remains with Alfa, has previously declared he will only remain in F1 as long as he enjoys the racing.

Despite a tough season with the team in which he has scored just two points from a ninth-place finish in the Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello, Raikkonen added: “I enjoy the racing.

"We have more fun when we do better. It [current performance] has not been something that we wanted to be or where we were aiming but it was quite early on very clear that we were not where we were hoping to be [this year].

“The racing I still enjoy. We have good battles and I wouldn’t be here today if I wasn’t enjoying it."

Addressing rumours a deal had already been signed for 2021, Raikkonen said: “If you believe the news then it’s true but I never had an option in my contract.

"For three months I’ve been telling you it’s not true and I’ve read so many things in the news that over the years I have stopped reading them because 90 per cent is far from the truth and 10 per cent is something to do with it but no."

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