Kimi Raikkonen’s long-time manager Steve Robertson has admitted the Finn never considered retiring from Formula 1 during the uncertainty over his Ferrari future.
Before the Singapore Grand Prix, the Scuderia confirmed that they would be taking the risk of promoting Charles Leclerc into a race seat from Sauber but moments later the 38-year-old announced he would be going in the other direction.
It was a move that surprised many, who wonder what is keeping the famously nonchalant ‘Iceman’ motivated, but for Robertson it was clear.
“Kimi loves driving,” he declared. “He could have stopped, but he just loves driving at the top in F1.
“He has been with F1’s iconic team for eight years, which is incredible. Now he may decide to end his career at the team where he started it.”
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Raikkonen revealed he only started conversations with the Swiss team after learning his Ferrari fate at Monza and his manager admits it was a simple process.
“Kimi had a meeting with them first and then he handed over to me,” he explained.
“They were interested and Kimi made it clear that he was interested. Then he gave me a job and we did [the deal] as we have throughout his career.”