Raikkonen took ꦓto Instagram to announce that he would be stepping away from the sport after a 20-year career. 

The Finn is the most ex🧸peꦏrienced driver in the sport’s history with 341 starts to his name. 

He claimed 21 viꦑctories, 18 podiums and 103 podiums, winning the 2007 drivers’ championship for Ferrari.

Raikkonen bow🐭s out♔ of F1 after three seasons with Alfa Romeo - a best finish of 12th in the drivers’ championship in 2019.

Reflecting on the news, Vasseur said: “There isn’t any driver out there like Kimi Räikkönen. His presence, his charisma and his unique attitude, matched with the innate skill that made this team give him a chance back in 2001, have made him a lꦆegend of our sport in a way which numbers and statistics struggle to convey. 

“It was a pleasure to work with him in these years and I believe I speak on behalf of everyone at Alfa Romeo Racing, from the 😼shop floor in Hinwil to the garage here in Zandvoort, when I say a dr♈iver like Kimi has written some indelible pages of our team’s, and our sport’s, history.”

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali described Raikkonen as a “true ꧒champion” and “fantastic person” having worked together at Ferrari from 2ꦉ007 to 2009, and briefly at the start of 2014.

“Kimi is an incredible part of our sport, a personal friend and a true champion,” a statement on Twitter said. “I had the privilege of working ﷺwith him at Ferrari and know the fantastic person he is. We will all miss him & his unique style and wish him and his family the bes🎶t for the future.”