Alfa Romeo would like to keep Räikkönen as a consultant
The Hinwil team confirms its intention to continue its collaboration, in a different way, with the 2007 world champion. The person concerned seems less enthusiastic about the idea.
Kimi Räikkönen’s Formula 1 driving career will come to an end at the end of the 2021 season. The Finn will have more than 350 Grand Prix races under his belt, a record. But what about a possible “second career” as a consultant like Niki Lauda (triple Formula 1 world champion) at Ferrari and Mercedes?
It is at any rate the wish of the leaders at Alfa, even though the team principal, the Frenchman Frédéric Vasseur, made it clear that he would not push fate with his current driver. “We will have time to discuss what we can do in the future,” he told Motorsport.com. “I would very much like to have Kimi with us, whatever his role, but I think he should take his time. I have seen that he has already received proposals from other championships or things like that, so it is better to let things settle down for the moment.”
Vasseur prefers to talk about everything Räikkönen has brought to the Hinwil team since the beginning of their collaboration in 2019. He has been of immense support for the team’s development, I am not talking about daily results but about the medium-term project development. He knows perfectly where to find performance. Moreover, regarding the team’s image, it was a huge boost. I would have loved to have better results and do more with him, but that’s also racing, you always want more. That’s how it is but Kimi’s support has been impressive.
On his side, the Finn does not seem particularly attracted to such a role, at least not initially. “I can’t imagine such a thing because deep down, it would always be exactly the same schedule and the same need to travel,” he explained with his usual pragmatism. “In that case, if I have to be there every time, I prefer to continue flying. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make any sense.”
Iceman does not rule out a part-time role. In any case, both parties will be keen to conclude this 2021 season by trying to continue the positive momentum started in Russia. Räikkönen having achieved a good eighth place in Sochi, his best result since the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix where he finished fourth.
