Raikkonen won the drivers' championship in 2007 Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will leave Ferrari at the end of this season and rejoin Sauber. The 38-year-old Finn will be replaced at Ferrari by 20-year-old Monaco-born Sauber driver Charles Leclerc, who will partner Sebastian Vettel in 2019. Raikkonen has spent five years at Ferrari in his second spell at the Italian team. He has signed a two-year contract with Sauber, where he made his Formula 1 debut in 2001. "Feels extremely good to go back where it all began," said Raikkonen in a post on Instagram. external-link Raikkonen is the last Ferrari driver to win the world championship in 2007, before taking a two-year break from F1 in 2010 to compete in the World Rally Championship. He returned to the sport with Lotus in 2012 and then rejoined Ferrari in 2014. He has 20 grands prix wins and 100 podiums in his career to date. "Signing Raikkonen as our driver represents an important pillar of our project, and brings us closer to our target of making significant progress as a team in the near future," said Sauber team boss Frederic Vasseur. Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said: "Kimi's contribution to the team, both as a driver and on account of his human qualities, has been fundamental. He played a decisive role in the team's growth and was, at the same time, always a great team player." 'Dreams do come true' Leclerc is a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy Leclerc has been picked as the Ferrari's next potential star, after impressing in his debut F1 season. "Dreams do come true," Leclerc, a member of the Ferrari driver academy, posted on Twitter. external-link "I will be eternally grateful to Ferrari for the opportunity given." In a statement he paid tribute to his late father and his friend and godfather Jules Bianchi, another Ferrari protégé, who died in 2015, nine months after a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. "To a person that is not part of this world anymore but to whom I owe everything of what is happening to me, Papa," said Leclerc. "To Jules, thank you for all the things you learnt me, we will never forget you, and to all the persons that supported me and believed in me. "I will work harder than ever to not disappoint you. But first, there is a season to finish with an amazing team that gave me the opportunity to fight and show my potential." Why is Raikkonen leaving? Raikkonen's move has come despite an online campaign from fans aimed at persuading Ferrari to keep him on for another season. As of Tuesday, nearly 90,000 fans had indicated their desire for the veteran to be retained. He remains one of the most popular drivers on the grid, many fans finding his notoriously taciturn and no-nonsense manner in public appealing. This is despite him failing to win a race in his five years since returning to Ferrari in 2014, and being out-performed by team-mates Fernando Alonso and then Vettel. Keeping Raikkonen had been Vettel's preferred option, too, but in the end Ferrari have stuck with a decision made by their late president Sergio Marchionne, who made the call back in June to promote Leclerc. Marchionne died unexpectedly in July and has been replaced at Ferrari by chairman John Elkann, a scion of the Agnelli family that has long controlled Fiat and its affiliated companies, and chief executive officer Louis Carey Camilleri. Both were at the Italian Grand Prix, where Elkann broke the news to Raikkonen before the race that he may not be retained, according to sources close to the team. He then failed to win the race despite starting from pole position, and by defending against Vettel on the opening lap arguably contributed to the chain of events that led to Vettel spinning to the back after colliding with Lewis Hamilton, who went on to win the race. It was the latest in a series of events this year in which Ferrari and/or Vettel have cost themselves points against Hamilton. Why Leclerc? Marchionne made the original call to promote Leclerc after his impressive start to his debut season this year. After three shaky races, Leclerc turned a corner at the fourth event in Baku, where he took the unfenced Sauber to a remarkable sixth place. His strong form has continued and after 14 races he has out-qualified team-mate Marcus Ericsson 11 times at an average advantage of just over 0.5 seconds. A number of drivers - including Vettel, Hamilton and two-time champion Fernando Alonso - have praised Leclerc and said he has a bright future. A member of the Ferrari driver academy, Leclerc was given a grand prix debut with Sauber after his championship-winning season in the Formula Two feeder series last year with the intention of moving him to Ferrari in 2019 if he performed to expectations. Why not Raikkonen? At the same time, Raikkonen, whose last victory was at the 2013 Australian Grand Prix for Lotus, has not made a compelling case to be retained. His form in 2018 has been much the same as in the previous four years. Generally a little off Vettel's pace in qualifying, Raikkonen has had varied performances in races, mixing occasional strong drives with others in which he lacks pace. He has also failed to make up a place on the first lap since the final race of the 2016 season, and has made a habit of under-performing in qualifying because of mistakes at high-pressure moments. Raikkonen is the last driver to win the title for the team, in 2007, but had been paid off by Ferrari at the end of 2009, one year short of the end of his contract, to make way for Alonso, after unconvincing performances. Raikkonen was re-signed for 2014 because Ferrari feared the Spaniard was becoming disillusioned with the team because of their inability provide him with a competitive car - he had nearly won the title in 2010 and 2012, but each time was fighting a faster Red Bull.<doc-sep>Kimi Raikkonen will leave Ferrari to join Sauber on a two year deal from the 2019 Formula 1 season. Ferrari announced the Finn would be ending his second spell with the team at the end of the current season on Tuesday morning, before confirmation shortly followed from Sauber that Raikkonen will re-join the Swiss squad. The move paves the way for Ferrari protégé and current Sauber driver Charles Leclerc to be promoted and fill Raikkonen's vacated seat at the Scuderia. Singapore #3 - Safety Car Singapore #3 - Safety Car" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-ZCkqyj81n0?wmode=opaque&controls=0&rel=0" name="Singapore #3 - Safety Car" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Singapore #3 - Safety Car Raikkonen has failed to claim a grand prix victory since returning to Ferrari at the start of the V6 hybrid era in 2014, but is the last driver to win the world championship with the team, following his triumph in 2007. “During these years, Kimi’s contribution to the team, both as a driver and on account of his human qualities, has been fundamental," team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said in a team statement. "He played a decisive role in the team’s growth and was, at the same time, always a great team player. “As a World Champion for Scuderia Ferrari, he will always be part of the Team’s history and family. We thank Kimi for all of this and wish him and his family a prosperous future.” Raikkonen will now rejoin the Sauber squad he made his F1 debut with in 2001. “Signing Kimi Räikkönen as our driver represents an important pillar of our project, and brings us closer to our target of making significant progress as a team in the near future," Sauber team principal Frederic Vasseur said. "Kimi’s undoubted talent and immense experience in Formula 1 will not only contribute to the development of our car, but will also accelerate the growth and development of our team as a whole. Together, we will start the 2019 season with a strong foundation, driven by the determination to fight for results that count.”<doc-sep>Photo : AP At 38 and in Formula One since 2001, mumbling Finnish weirdo Kimi Raikkonen is one of the veterans of the sport. But time comes for us all, and Raikkonen hasn’t won a grand prix since 2013, so it’s time for the Ferrari machine to swap him out with a newer, younger model. Advertisement As had been widely speculated for some time, 20-year-old Charles Leclerc will take Raikkonen’s seat at Scuderia Ferrari for the 2019 season, and Raikkonen will swap with him at Alfa Romeo Sauber. Leclerc, understandably, is ecstatic about the situation, and took to Twitter to say as much: Advertisement The kid seems like a class act. A GP3 and Formula 2 champion, Leclerc had served on Sauber’s team this past season and has been seen as one of F1's more promising up-and-coming young drivers. He’s a graduate of the Ferrari Driver Academy and is the second-youngest driver in history to race for the Scuderia, behind Ricardo Rodriguez way back in the early 1960s. Advertisement As for Raikkonen, his move away from the Ferrari team had reportedly been in the works for a while, instigated by the late Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, according to Autosport: [Leclerc’s] results and a dip in form for Raikkonen convinced the late Sergio Marchionne, Ferrari’s former chairman, to green-light Leclerc replacing the Finn next season. That was complicated when Marchionne passed away in July and was replaced by Louis Camilleri, a supporter of Raikkonen, but Ferrari’s new hierarchy decided to honour Marchionne’s original plan. Advertisement Raikkonen’s been with Ferrari since 2014, his second stint with the team after leaving and then returning to F1. During his first , he won a world championship in 2007. Raikkonen, as he noted on Instagram today (or his PR team or whatever did, I find it very hard to believe Kimi Raikkonen gives a shit about anything enough to maintain an Instagram), is likely closing out his F1 career where it began. The Finn debuted in F1 with what was then Sauber-Petronas in 2001: Advertisement He’ll be in the sport through at 2020, when he’ll be 40 years old and competing with this new crop of F1 speed-teens.<doc-sep>Once you have subscribed we will use the email you provided to send you the newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the newsletter email. Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari have announced they will part ways at the end of the current F1 season. Raikkonen, who has had two spells with Ferrari between 2007-09 and 2014-present has not won a race since the 2013 season, yet is still regarded highly among F1 fans as a legend of the sport. The news that the Finn is to step down from his current position at Ferrari led many to believe Raikkonen's career would be coming to an end after the last race of this current campaign. Martin Brundle, commentator and presenter for Sky Sports was one of these people, tweeting shortly after the news broke. "Changing of the guard continues in F1. Can’t imagine Kimi wants to drive for any other team available and so farewell to a charismatic champion, and a brilliant driver. "He’ll be missed, so hope he’s around in some capacity for a good while. Ferrari need to build for the future." So it would seem that Brundle was sure Kimi would not want to race for another team next year, and in the same tweet effectively congratulated the one-time world champion on his retirement in F1. However, it appears the pundit tweeted too soon, as in a dramatic turn of events Kimi Raikkonen surprisingly announced on Instagram that he would be returning to the team he started in Formula 1 at, Sauber. He wrote: "Guess who's back?! Next two years with @sauberf1team ahead! Feels extremely good to go back where it all began!" It appears the deal involves a straight swap with Sauber, with 20-year-old driver Charles Leclerc already confirmed as Raikkonen's replacement after an impressive year for the junior Ferrari star. Like many fans, Brundle shocked by the news and described the decision as 'strange' in another tweet. "So Kimi can imagine driving for another team, Sauber. Good for him but feels strange to me as he heads to 40. Admire his passion and determination, hope he doesn’t regret not going out at the top." What has confused Brundle the most is the decision to move to a team that are not near the same level as Ferrari as he surely heads into his last couple of years behind the wheel in F1. Raikkonen will be looking at this move as a way to end his career where it all began, and has the chance to ruffle a few feathers at the top one last time behind the wheel of a car that has never actually won a race in F1. News Now - Sport News<doc-sep>
Raikkonen made his debut in F1 with Sauber in 2001, before joining McLaren the following year, and will head back to the Swiss team next season in what is expected to be a straight swap with Charles Leclerc. Sauber has confirmed Raikkonen for the 2019 season but the Finn wrote on his official Instagram account that it was a two-year deal. He wrote: "Guess who's back?! Next two years with @sauberf1team ahead! Feels extremely good to go back where it all began!" Though the 2007 world champion has not won a race since 2013, and has not tasted victory in his second spell with Ferrari, he represents a major coup for Sauber. The team has been on a major rebuilding project over the last year since Fred Vasseur took charge amid an ownership change. "Signing Kimi Raikkonen as our driver represents an important pillar of our project, and brings us closer to our target of making significant progress as a team in the near future," said Vasseur. "Kimi's undoubted talent and immense experience in Formula 1 will not only contribute to the development of our car, but will also accelerate the growth and development of our team as a whole. "Together, we will start the 2019 season with a strong foundation, driven by the determination to fight for results that count." Sauber's revival has facilitated Leclerc's stunning rookie season, which has earned the 20-year-old an immediate graduation to Ferrari, although that is yet to be officially confirmed. Raikkonen taking one of the 2019 Sauber seats means its other '18 driver Marcus Ericsson is under pressure to earn his stay with the team. Ferrari protege Antonio Giovinazzi was considered a favourite for a Sauber drive, as Ferrari has an option on one of the seats there. It may have used that to allow Raikkonen's move, or Giovinazzi could make his full-time F1 debut by replacing Ericsson. Sauber Petronas team in Johor Bahru: Kimi Raikkonen Photo by: Red Bull Sauber Petronas