Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1025219
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 SEPTEMBER 2018 21 SPORTS FOOTBALL Kimi Raikkonen to leave Ferrari at end of season SPORTS FORMULA 1 KIMI Raikkonen, 38, has been with Ferrari since 2007, where he won the world champion- ship in his debut season, which title remains the team's last. However, Ferrari have been developing Leclerc for some time, with the 20-year-old driv- ing for Sauber this year, and it had been widely reported they would bring in the youngster for next season. Raikkonen's departure al- lowed them to make that move and bring in Leclerc to drive alongside Sebastian Vettel. Leclerc has secured 13 points this season, including a best finish of sixth at Baku, Azer- baijan following back-to-back titles in GP3 and Formula 2. Ferrari's statement on Rai- kkonen read: "During these years, Kimi's contribution to Raikkonen will swap seats with Sauber's talented Charles Leclerc the Team, both as a driver and on account of his human qualities, has been fundamen- tal. He played a decisive role in the team's growth and was, at the same time, always a great team player. It had been previously sug- gested Raikkonen would re- tire when he left Ferrari, but he quickly confirmed that he will return to Sauber, where he began his Formula 1 career. Sauber also confirmed the move and that Raikkonen has signed a two-year contract, which will take him into his 40s. Frederic Vasseur, CEO of Sauber Motorsport and Team Principal of the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team said: "Signing Kimi Raikkonen as our driver represents an im- portant pillar of our project, and brings us closer to our target of making significant progress as a team in the near future. "Kimi's undoubted talent and immense experience in Formula One will not only contribute to the develop- ment 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."