Raikkonen, Giovinazzi retained by Alfa for 2021

Mark Scott
Kimi Raikkonen Antonio Giovinazzi

Alfa Romeo has confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi will both remain with the team for the 2021 season.

Throughout the 2020 campaign, there has been plenty of speculation surrounding the Alfa Romeo duo and their respective futures.

Raikkonen had always maintained that he would only remain with the team and Formula 1 if he continued to enjoy his hobby in 2020, while mixed performances from Giovinazzi on the other side of the garage had the likes of F2 World Championship leader Mick Schumacher linked with his seat, even more so after the son of the seven-time World Champion, Michael, was pencilled in for an FP1 session.

However, Alfa Romeo has ultimately decided to stick with who and what they know, keeping Raikkonen and Giovinazzi together for another year.

“Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN is more than a team to me, it is like a second family,” Raikkonen said upon confirmation.

“So many of the faces that were around me when I made my Formula One debut in 2001 are still here and the unique atmosphere of this team is what gives me that extra motivation to keep going in what will be my 19th season in the sport, next year.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe in the team’s project and in what we feel we can achieve together. This is a team that values hard work over words and this fits well with my style: I am looking forward to next year and hopefully making some steps forward towards the front of the midfield with the team.”

Giovinazzi, meanwhile, wants to continue improving with the team having also been signed up for another year.

He said: “Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN has been my home in Formula One for the last two seasons and I am happy this relationship can continue for one more year.

“The team has put a lot of faith in me and I have done my best to repay this confidence with hard work and commitment: we have achieved some good results and I feel I have done my part to make the team progress, but the road ahead is still long and there is much more we want to achieve together.

“There will be a lot of continuity between this season and the next one, so everything we work on between now and the end of the year will already count for next, and we are ready to give it all we have.”

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Alfa Romeo Antonio Giovinazzi Kimi Raikkonen

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