2007 Formula 1 world champion with Scuderia Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen, has been appointed team principal of the works Kawasaki Racing Team in the Motocross World Championship.
Kimi, who remains a fan favourite and a popular figure among the Tifosi and is arguably F1’s most popular driver ever, has ended his Formula 1 time after an illustrious career in the pinnacle of motorsport.
The Finnish driver joined Scuderia Ferrari in 2007 and won the drivers’ title in his first year alongside the Maranello team. Up to date, Kimi Raikkonen remains Scuderia Ferrari’s most recent Formula One world champion. After a short break he returned to Formula 1 with a spell at Lotus. In September 2013, the Maranello team officially confirmed his re-signing on a two-year contract, beginning in the 2014 campaign. This deal was later extended until the end of the 2018 championship. During his second Ferrari stint, Kimi secured 26 podium finishes, two pole positions, and a victory at the 2018 United States Grand Prix, 113 Grands Prix after his last race win. He was among the top four overall in the championship on multiple occasions during his second Ferrari stint, finishing his total eight-year long Ferrari career with a third place in the 2018 championship.
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The Finn remained coy about his plans after Formula 1, confirming he would be putting a lot of time aside for his family. The 42-year-old will run the team alongside former motocross winner Antti Pyrhonen.
Asked to comment on his new project, Kimi Raikkonen said: “It’s no secret that, for me, one of my great passions in life for many years has been motocross but this team is not what you might call a hobby; 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.” – the former Ferrari driver concluded.
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