F1 News is coming thick and fast and Express Sport is on hand to bring you the latest as Mika Hakkinen discusses Kimi Raikkonen’s upcoming move from Ferrari to Sauber. Kimi Raikkonen is returning to Sauber ahead of the 2019 F1 campaign and the Ferrari driver’s switch shows two things. That is the opinion of two-time World Drivers’ Championship winner Mika Hakkinen, who is looking forward to seeing how the move goes. Kimi Raikkonen learned earlier this month that Ferrari would not be retaining his services at the end of the current season. But it was soon announced that he would be heading back to Swiss team Sauber, with whom he started his F1 career.
Raikkonen had been expected to call it a day after learning of his fate at Ferrari so the move to Sauber came as a surprise. Hakkinen has now offered his take on what both parties have proven by striking a deal. “The news that Kimi is going to stay in Formula One for two more years with Sauber surprised many people, but it shows two things very clearly,” Hakkinen told Unibet. “He has not lost his love for driving these amazing cars, and the team has ambition. “As a Formula One driver you wake up each day knowing what you want to do at the race.
“It becomes a kind of obsession to keep pushing yourself and the team to achieve results. “As a result, if you wake up one morning and that hunger is no longer there, it’s time to stop. “I stopped at the end of 2001, when I was still only 33, but Kimi is planning to keep racing in Formula one until he is 40. “He still has the hunger to do it, and that’s the key point. He just likes doing this job. “The speed is still there – he was quickest in second practice in Singapore – and he is going to a team that really wants to work with him. It’s a great news story for Formula One. “He started his career with Sauber, a team that has been through some tough times in recent years, and they clearly have the desire to build on their strong performances this season. “Only one year ago they attracted support from Alfa Romeo, they have ambitious owners, and they will want Kimi to show them how to progress to the next step. “This will not involve winning races, but sometimes there is a lot of satisfaction to be gained from helping a team to improve, score points and threaten the big teams. It will be interesting to watch.”
Raikkonen has six races to go with Ferrari and next up is the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi next Sunday. The Finn currently sits third in the F1 World Drivers’ Championship standings on 174 points. While his Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel is second and still in with a shout of overhauling leader and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton.
