Alfa Romeo in no doubt over Kimi’s motivation

Jamie Woodhouse
Kimi Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen "more than motivated" at Alfa Romeo.

Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur is clear that veteran racer Kimi Raikkonen remains “more than motivated”.

The Finn is now the most experienced Formula 1 driver in history with 329 race starts to his name. At 41, he is still very much enjoying life in the series and will continue with Alfa Romeo alongside Antonio Giovinazzi for 2021, the third consecutive season of this partnership.

It is far from the case that no other drivers are interested in a seat with Alfa Romeo. In fact, Ferrari have a very strong army of junior drivers looking to get that first big break in Formula 1.

Ferrari have control over one of the seats at Alfa Romeo, to whom they supply engines, but instead they found space for Ferrari Driver Academy member and reigning F2 champion Mick Schumacher at Haas, while the runner-up in that championship, Callum Ilott, has been appointed as Ferrari’s test driver for 2021.

But Raikkonen is not ready to yield to the young guns yet, and Vasseur said it was always the priority to retain the Finn.

“It is clear we wanted to get Kimi on board,” Vasseur told GPFans Global.

“It was more a method of motivation for him that he knew at some stage it would become difficult, that’s for sure.

“He is motivated and doing a good job. For sure, with 23 races it will be tough, but it will be tough for everybody. It will be tough for me also but I think the motivation is there, that is the most important for me.”

And that motivation was the only criteria which Raikkonen had to satisfy.

“It is just a matter of commitment and motivation, and the commitment is still there and Kimi is more than motivated. I am optimistic for the future,” said Vasseur.

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Asked if Raikkonen could stick around for 2022 when the new sporting and technical regulations will be brought into Formula 1, Vasseur replied: “Yeah, but we treat it one by one.

“We have to be realistic and stay focused on this year and see what happens next year.

“I don’t want to think about 2023 or 24. Let’s do 2021 and then have the discussion during the course of the season.”

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