Kimi Raikkonen confirms Russian GP return

Alfa Romeo

Raikkonen confirms Russian GP return

Raikkonen has missed the last two races after testing positive for Covid

Sam Hall

Monday 13 September 2021 12:26

Kimi Raikkonen has confirmed he will return to action for Alfa Romeo at the Russian Grand Prix.

After returning a positive Covid test on the Saturday morning of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend at Zandvoort, Raikkonen was forced to sit out the remainder of the event.

Reserve driver Robert Kubica deputised for the Finn and with Raikkonen self-isolating at home and unable to provide the two negative tests needed to return at Monza, Kubica remained in the car for the Italian Grand Prix.

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Via social media, Raikkonen announced he will be back for the Sochi race in two weeks, writing, "I am all good. See you at the next GP."

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A post shared by Kimi Räikkönen (@kimimatiasraikkonen)

Despite the second Alfa Romeo seat remaining up for grabs for next season, Kubica said ahead of the Italian GP that he did not expect his name to enter the thinking of team principal Frédéric Vasseur.

“Definitely not from my side," explained Kubica.

"I have learned from my life that everything can happen from day to day, positives and negatives, so never say never.

“But realistically, I think there are some other drivers who are probably higher on the list. I don’t know, you will have to ask Fred.

“I have my racing programme with endurance racing which normally I am focussing all attention there. This is a bit different since Zandvoort because I am here but I don’t know what it will bring.

“Whatever it will bring, the future, I just have to wait and see.”