KIMI RAIKKONEN has announced his decision to leave F1 at the end of this season.
As SunSport reported on Tuesday, the 41-year-old will quit the sport and be replaced at Alfa Romeo by Valtteri Bottas.
It is a move that clears the way for George Russell to replace Bottas at Mercedes to become Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate.
Raikkonen, Formula One‘s most experienced driver with 344 races under his belt, won the drivers’ title in 2007.
The Finn said on Instagram: “This is it. This will be my last season on Formula One.
“This is a decision I did during last winter. It was not an easy decision but after this season it is a time for new things.
“Even though the season is still on, I want to thank my family, all my teams, everyone involved in my racing career and especially all you great fans who have been rooting for me all this time.
“Formula One might come to an end for me but there is a lot more in life that I want to experience and enjoy.
Most read in Motorsport
SUN BINGO GET £50 BONUS & 50 FREE SPINS TODAY
“See you all around after this. Sincerely, Kimi.”
Raikkonen made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2001 and made his talent known with a series of top-five finishes.
Snapped up by McLaren the following year, he later moved to Ferrari and denied Hamilton and Fernando Alonso by a single point to win the 2007 championship in his debut season with the Maranello team.