Ferrari identify Raikkonen replacement

Ferrari have been breathing down Mercedes’ neck this season after years of domination and will be hoping to get to the top of that constructor’s championship this season.

But for that they need Raikkonen to step up to the plate as he has been off colour in the last few races, leaving Vettel to do a little too much.

For Mercedes, both Bottas and Hamilton have been contributing to the team’s cause and hence Mercedes have that slender lead at the top.

F1 pundits have been calling for Raikkonen’s head as they feel he is just not good enough to be keeping his Ferrari seat for another year.

Ricciardo was initially slated to replace Raikkonen next year but his salary demands are a little too much for Ferrari and hence they have now turned their heads towards Leclerc, according to reports in Motorsport.com

Leclerc has been a revelation this year, managing to score points with the Sauber and showing beautiful skills on the race track.

Ferrari are familiar to Leclerc as he is a product of the Ferrari driver academy.

The young driver has already suggested that he is ready to take up the Ferrari seat from next year itself.

“It only makes me smile, but on the other hand it doesn’t feel realistic for now”.

He added: “When it will be time to think about next year I will think about it, and hopefully we have an opportunity to take that seat” Leclerc had said in Canada.

Is this the end of the road for Raikkonen? And will we see a young driver take up that prestigious Ferrari seat next year?