Kimi Raikkonen to take part ownership in Sauber after 2019 in a middle ground worked out between all stakeholders.
Ferrari’s delayed announcement of the 2019 driver lineup has paved way for a lot of rumours to come in regarding Kimi Raikkonen’s F1 future and Charles Leclerc’s imminent move to Ferrari.
According to initial reports during the Monza weekend, Raikkonen is in line to be replaced by Leclerc at the end of the season, on the basis of the agreement reached between him and Sergio Marchionne.
The new Ferrari management are adamant to keep Kimi at the team for one more year, but are in a fix because of the Marchionne contract and are trying to find a middle ground.
The middle ground suggested is that Leclerc and Raikkonen stay put for another year, Leclerc gets his $2 million salary(one that he was supposed to get at Ferrari in 2019) and that the duo swap at the end of the 2019 season.
Reports in Finland now suggest that, Raikkonen could indeed move to Sauber next season, as a driver and a part owner. He would drive the Sauber for maybe a season and then opt for a more background role with the team.
Raikkonen is student of motorsport and has had his racing team ventures in the past in Räikkönen-Robertson Racing, IceOne Racing.
Thus, Raikkonen’s history with Sauber and the fact that he lives close by to the Sauber headquarters in Switzerland could reportedly pave way for this special relationship.
If this move goes through, Kimi Raikkonen would still largely be in the Ferrari family and would essentially have secured his future in the sport as well, this time in an administrative role.
Wouldn’t you just love those Kimi team owner/leader press conferences?
