It's Official - Kimi Räikkönen retire from F1 at the end of the season

It was confirmed yesterday (1/9/21) that Kimi Räikkönen will retire from Formula 1 at the end of the 2021 season, which means the Finn will thus be leaving Formula 1 after nineteen seasons thus far, which includes twenty-one Grand Prix victories and one F1 Drivers' title.

Räikkönen made the announcement during via a social media post, confirming his retirement from Formula 1 at the end of the 2021 season.

Räikkönen career in Formula 1 started when he stepped up with Sauber back in 2001 only having twenty-three races in the lower formulas, contesting a season with the team with his debut race finishing sixth place at Australian Grand Prix and a best result of two fourth place finishes at the Austrian and the Canadian Grand Prixs'.

Räikkönen move to McLaren in 2002. In 2003, Räikkönen won the Malaysian Grand Prix, finishing second place in the drivers' standings in 2003 and again in 2005. Overall winning nine Grand Prixs during his time at McLaren.

By the end of 2006, Räikkönen announced that he would be moving to Ferrari for 2007 replacing Michael Schumacher. Winning six Grand Prixs' that season to become F1 World Champion ahead of both Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton by just one point after the dramatic season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

Then in 2010, Räikkönen left Ferarri after three seasons which include nine Grand Prix wins and and one Drivers' Title. Rumoured he was returning to McLaren for 2010, Räikkönen opted to rally instead to race in the WRC with Citroen for two seasons, finishing tenth in the Drivers standings in 2010 and 2011 with a best finish of fifth at Rally Turkey in 2010.

By the end of 2011 with rumours he was going to race for Williams in 2012, Räikkönen announced that he would be returning to Formula 1 with Lotus for 2012 and 2013, winning two Grand Prixs' and finishing third place in the drivers' standings in 2012.

By the end of 2013, Räikkönen opted a return to Ferrari for 2014, staying till the end of 2018, winning a Grand Prix and finishing third place in the drivers' standings in 2018.

By the end of 2018, Räikkönen opted return to Sauber (now Alfa Romeo) for 2019, best result of fourth place at 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix. So far this season, he only managed two tenth place finsihes at Baku and the Hunganoring. To conclude Räikkönen retirement from Formula 1 at the end of the season.

Should have been F1 World Champion back in 2003 and 2005 to add his 2007 titles in my opinion becoming a three-times world champion instead of a one-times champion.

Its the right time to retire from Formula 1 (he will be 42 at the end of the season), his got nothing to prove. Good luck whatever Kimi Räikkönen does next, as his been a great ambassador for the sport and a great driver for Formula 1.