«Breaking News» Ferrari urged to retain Kimi Raikkonen as petition to keep Finnish driver reaches 20,000 signatures

More than 20,000 Kimi Raikkonen fans have signed an online petition urging Ferrari to keep the Finnish Formula One driver for another year rather than replace him with rookie Charles Leclerc.

The petition, on change.org, argued that replacing the 38-year-old was 'not justifiable' and that the team needed him to keep the balance alongside four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel.

'Kimi has also outperformed Vettel a number of times proving he is back on form and his drive in Monza just adds more credibility to that,' argued petition organiser Christy John.

Fans have signed a petition urging Ferrari to offer Kimi Raikkonen a new contract

The petition is highly unlikely to have any influence on matters, with Ferrari widely assumed to have already made their decision to replace the 2007 world champion with their 20-year-old Monegasque protege who debuted for Sauber this season.

An announcement to that effect is expected soon in Formula One circles, with the series heading to Singapore for next week's race.

Raikkonen is the oldest driver in the sport and remains the last Ferrari driver to have won a title and one of the most popular on the starting grid.

Nicknamed 'The Iceman' for his often glacial demeanour, his dour nature and dislike of media and sponsor engagements has also endeared him to many fans who see him as a throwback to a bygone era.

The Finn appears to have softened this season, however, while raising his game on the track.

At Monza, Ferrari's home track in Italy, last weekend he started on pole - after the fastest ever Formula One lap - and finished second to world champion Lewis Hamilton to record his 100th career podium.

Former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn, who is now Formula One's managing director for sporting matters, said he had noticed a change in the Finn.

Young driver Charles Leclerc is reportedly set to replace Raikkonen at Ferrari next season

'Since I returned to Formula One last year, I'e noticed how Kimi has lightened up,' he said after Sunday's race.

'It can be spotted in a host of little things, such as spending a bit more time signing autographs or smiling for cameras that in the past would usually have only elicited a scowl.

'This year, he is certainly driving better than at any time since he returned to Ferrari (in 2014) and maybe another chance will come along soon.'

 

Link article

https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/08/ferrari-urged-to-retain-kimi-raikkonen-as-petition-to-keep-finnish-driver-reaches-20000-signatures/
Main photo article More than 20,000 Kimi Raikkonen fans have signed an online petition urging Ferrari to keep the Finnish Formula One driver for another year rather than replace him with rookie Charles Leclerc.
The petition, on change.org, argued that replacing the 38-year-old was ‘not justifiable’ and...

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Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Sport HienaLouca





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