Kimi Raikkonen has decided to return to motorsports as a team boss in 2022 after ending his career with Formula 1.
Kimi Raikkonen began his career in 2001 with Sauber and ended it at the end of 2021. Valtteri Bottas will replace Raikkonen and rake a seat alongside Guanyu Zhou. When asked about his post-retirement plans, Raikkonen had said that he will enjoy the time with his family.
However, now the Finnish driver has taken up the role of team principal for the Kawasaki racing team in MXGP. He will lead the team alongside past motocross GP winner Antti Pyrhonen.
For the past 10 years, both Raikkonen and Pyrhonen have been involved in the motocross series as IceOne Racing. 2022 will be the first time that Raikkonen will lead the factory entry Kawasaki came on board with full support.
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Kimi Raikkonen is very focused
The Finnish driver said that motocross has been his greatest passion for many years. “This team is not what you might call a hobby,” he said in his new role as team boss.
“It’s very serious, very focused and we aspire to be the best we possibly can. Now I have retired from racing I will be able to spend more time on this project; not on the daily issues but more from a strategic point of view using my experience of how teams work and what creates success on the world stage.”
“Everyone, including myself, is delighted that Kawasaki has chosen us to be the factory team. I know that the chance of success is always greater with direct factory support so this translates into a great opportunity for us as the new Kawasaki Racing Team in MXGP,” he further added.
