MARANELLO, Italy -- Kimi Raikkonen will return to Ferrari as a replacement for
Felipe Massa, giving the Formula One team a new partner for Fernando Alonso and
two top drivers for next season.
Richard Dent Womens Jersey . "Scuderia
Ferrari announces that it has reached an agreement with Kimi Raikkonen," the
team said Wednesday in a statement. "The Finn will join Fernando Alonso in the
driver line-up for the next two racing seasons." The expected move came a day
after Massa announced he will leave Ferrari following the seven final races of
this season. The 33-year-old Raikkonen, who currently drives for Lotus, had been
heavily linked with a return to Ferrari. The Finn raced for Ferrari from
2007-09, and his title in 2007 was the last time Ferrari won the drivers
championship. "Im really pleased to return to Maranello after having experienced
three fantastic years there," Raikkonen said on Ferraris website. "I have lots
of memories that tie me to Ferrari, which Ive always carried with me. I cant
wait to work with Fernando, an extraordinary driver, to bring the team the
success it deserves." Alonso and Raikkonen have won three Formula One titles and
52 races between them. Ferrari apparently wanted to strengthen its lineup for
2014, when the F1 regulations change dramatically with the introduction of new
1.6-litre V6 turbo engines. Raikkonen has one win and five second-place finishes
this season and is known as one of the most consistent drivers in the sport. His
retirement in Belgium last month ended a run of 27 consecutive races in the
points, and it was his first DNF in 39 races. "Im delighted to welcome Kimi back
to the Scuderia with which he won the world title," Ferrari team principal
Stefano Domenicali said. "He sounded extremely happy to return to Maranello and
very determined to approach the job that awaits him in the best way possible."
Massa won 11 races in his first three seasons with Ferrari but he hasnt been the
same driver since a life-threatening accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix in
2009. His contract is up at the end of this season. "Felipe always carried
himself as a real team man and together we lived through beautiful and dramatic
moments, which created a really special human and professional relationship,"
Domenicali said. "Hell always be part of our family and we wish him well for his
future." In the current standings, Alonso is second to Red Bull driver Sebastian
Vettel, Raikkonen is fourth and Massa is seventh. Of Raikkonens 20 career F1
wins, nine came during his three seasons with Ferrari. He won the 2007
championship, the only drivers title of his career, by one point ahead of Lewis
Hamilton and Alonso, who was then with McLaren. However, near the end of the
2009 season, Ferrari announced that Raikkonen was leaving the team even though
his contract lasted through 2010. He was replaced by Alonso. The announcement of
Raikkonens return comes during turbulent times at Ferrari, which this season has
again been unable to stop Red Bulls dominance. During last weekends Italian GP,
Alonso and Ferrari were again forced to downplay talk of a rift after the
Spanish driver lost his temper with team officials during qualifying. It remains
to be seen if Alonso will also leave or duel for the teams top driver status
with Raikkonen next season. If Alonso does stay, it will mark the first time
Ferrari has two former world champion drivers since Alain Prost and Nigel
Mansell were at the wheels of the red cars in 1990. "I want to welcome my new
teammate," Alonso said on Ferraris website. "Together well have to approach a
difficult technical and sporting challenge starting next year."
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