F1 2017: Ferrari Retains Kimi Raikkonen For 2018 Season

Scuderia Ferrari has announced that Kimi Raikkonen has been retained for the 2018 season of the FIA Formula One World Championship. It will be the fifth consecutive year for the former world champion with Ferrari ever since he re-joined the Italian team in 2014. Raikkonen previously was part of Ferrari from 2007, winning the world championship that year, until the end of 2009. The announcement comes ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend, the first race after the summer break.

Ferrari issued a short statement to confirm the announcement that read, "Scuderia Ferrari has renewed its technical and racing agreement with Kimi Raikkonen. The Finnish driver will therefore race for the Maranello team in the 2018 Formula One World Championship."

Also Read: Sebastian Vettel Wins Monaco GP Ahead Of Kimi Raikkonen

Raikkonen's consistent pace this year along with his sound partnership with teammate Sebastian Vettel has been attributed as one of the reasons behind the contract renewal. The first of this season has been exceptionally well for Raikkonen. The new Ferrari matches more evenly to Raikkonen's driving style and the 37-year-old managed to secure a pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix, his first since 2008; while also taking a podium finish in the race.

(Young Ferrari Fan Thomas Danel Kimi Raikkonen)

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While Raikkonen's retention is confirmed, it still needs to be seen if Vettel too will be retained by the Italian outfit. The German driver's contract with Ferrari at the end of this season and while Vettel has shown positive signs to continue his association, there has been no confirmation yet. That said, Vettel is likely to stay with Ferrari as prospects outside of gaining a championship winning car seem unlikely.

More so, since the top three teams - Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull - are somewhat taken. Mercedes has already signed Lewis Hamilton for 2018 while Valtteri Bottas is likely to be retained as well following his impressive debut. Meanwhile, Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen show no signs of leaving either.Before the summer break, it was Vettel who won the Hungary Grand Prix and is also leading the championship standings. Hamilton and Botta coming in second and third respectively, followed by Ricciardo in fourth place. Raikkonen sits fifth in the overall standings