Kimi Raikkonen to retire from F1 at the end of 2021

An F1 legend has confirmed the end of his glittering career which is set to trigger a blockbuster shake up at the front of the grid.

F1 legend Kimi Raikkonen has cleared the way for a massive shake up of the grid, announcing that he was stepping away from the sport at the end of the year.

The 41-year-old former world champion announced his departure from the sport with a slew of records, having spent 20 years in the sport.

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Raikkonen won the 2007 world tittle in a thrilling finale, beating Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso by a single point when Hamilton went off the track and finished seventh and Fernando Alonso managed third as Raikkonen claimed victory to take out the world title.

Raikkonen is also the driver with the most starts and entries in F1 history and is the last Ferrari driver to have claimed the world title, having succeeded Michael Schumacher at the team.

He was dropped by the team two years later and spent two years out of the sport before returning with Lotus and returning to Ferrari before spending his final three years with Alfa Romeo.

Despite being a famously prickly character on the F1 grid, the Finnish legend will leave the sport with a massive legacy over his two decades at the top of the sport.

Even winning the F1 World Championship couldn’t get him to crack a smile. Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Raikkonen took to social media to announce the decision, which he said he made last winter.

“This is it. This will be my last season in Formula 1,” Raikkonen said. “This is a decision I did during last winter.

“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 1 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”.

The decision from Raikkonen comes after speculation raged that this would be the end for the Alfa Romeo driver.

Following a crash at the Austrian Grand Prix where he was blamed for an incident with Sebastian Vettel on the final lap of the race, the speculation ramped up.

It hit fever pitch this week with Mercedes’ boss Toto Wolff confirming a decision had been made on the driver line up for the F1’s top team for next year with Williams star George Russell expected to finally be promoted to the top pair.

However, it was expected that the team was waiting to finalise current driver Valtteri Bottas’ future before pulling the trigger, with Bottas expected to replace Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo.

Raikkonen’s move has cleared the path but fans and F1 stars still wanted to say goodbye to the legendary figure.

Thanks for the memories Kimi. Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP

Former F1 champion Nico Rosberg wrote: “An absolute legend … all the best for what’s coming next. Enjoy the time with your family!

In the history of @F1 you left a mark that few others have. I’ll always be grateful for having had the privilege of being your teammate. Thank you, Maestro 🙏#Kimi7#Raikkonenpic.twitter.com/xzf671WENQ

— Antonio Giovinazzi (@Anto_Giovinazzi) September 1, 2021

Astonishing how long #Kimi Raikkonen has lasted in #F1. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but he was always fair with me and had plenty to say if you asked him a decent question. His retirement leaves an intriguing opening for 2022 seat pic.twitter.com/fssHBJzE7Q

— James Allen (@Jamesallenonf1) September 1, 2021

One of the great things I got to see inside the Ferrari factory was the street named Via Kimi Raikkonen. An all-time great: https://t.co/z1tFdQtWEv

— Justin Hyde (@Justin_Hyde) September 1, 2021

Kimi Raikkonen retiring is really the end of an era #F1. The first race I ever watched was the 2004 Belgian GP where Kimi won in his McLaren, in a season dominated by Ferrari. Here’s a photo I took w/ him on my 18th bday at the Indian GP on my 1st ever F1 assignment as a reporter pic.twitter.com/Ee6JdO8eyS

— Sarakshi Rai (@Sarakshi) September 1, 2021

F1 journalist Luke Smith tweeted: “As with so much of his F1 career, Kimi Raikkonen announced his retirement his way, on his terms, to end an illustrious career … but you can be sure that we will miss him far more than he’ll miss us!

Alfa Romeo boss Fred Vasseur also farewelled the star as one of the most unique champions the sport has seen.

“There isn’t any driver out there like Kimi Raikkonen,” he said. “His presence, his charisma and his unique attitude, matched with the innate skill that made this team give him a chance back in 2001, have made him a legend of our sport in a way which numbers and statistics struggle to convey.

“It was a pleasure to work with him in these years.”