Kimi gets new Ferrari contract

For a third successive season Kimi Raikkonen has agreed a new one-year contract with Ferrari.

The Finn, who has been acting as Sebastian Vettel’s rear gunner for the 2017 Formula One World Championship, was set to see his current contract expire at the end of the season.

It appeared he didn’t have the full backing of Ferrari either, so a new contract once looked doubtful, especially with Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne calling him a ‘laggard’.

His form since that point has improved, like it has every year his contract is reportedly being discussed and he’s now agreed a new deal.

According to motorsport.com ‘Raikkonen’s deal will likely pave the way for Ferrari to conclude a new longer deal with Sebastian Vettel, whose current contract runs until the end of 2017.’

It had been thought that with so many drivers available in 2019 that only short-term deals would be signed by drivers to give them the best negotiating position to move teams.

Whilst Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Valterri Bottas are all out-of-contract in 2018, Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen are all out-of-contract in 2019.