Formula 1: Raikkonen to Sauber - Leclerc to Ferrari

Former Formula 1 world champion Kimi Räikkönen is leaving Ferrari at the end of this season and moving to the Swiss team Sauber. Both racing teams announced this on Tuesday. Sebastian Vettel's new teammate for the Italians will be the 20-year-old Monegasque Charles Leclerc, who is currently completing his rookie season at Sauber. “Kimi played a crucial role in the development of the team over the years,” said Ferrari, “as Ferrari world champion he will always have a place in the history of this racing team.”

Räikkönen brought the world title to Maranello in 2007, making him the Scuderia's last world champion to this day. Raikkonen initially drove in red until 2009 and finally returned to Ferrari in 2014. However, the Finn is now forgoing the expected end of his career and is surprisingly returning to his roots: he made his Formula 2001 debut for Sauber in 1, and the 38-year-old is now receiving a two-year contract with the backbencher team. “The signing of Kimi Räikkönen is a key pillar in making significant progress with our team,” said Sauber team boss Frederic Vasseur: “Kimi’s talent and experience will help us to develop the car and the team.”

Leclerc's promotion does not come as a surprise; an announcement has been expected for months. Ferrari initially only confirmed the Monegasque's contract for the 2019 season. The 20-year-old has impressed so far in his first Formula 1 season and has been supported in the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2016. “I will work harder than ever so as not to disappoint you,” Leclerc wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

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Formula 1: Raikkonen to Sauber - Leclerc to Ferrari

Former Formula 1 world champion Kimi Räikkönen is leaving Ferrari at the end of this season and moving to the Swiss team Sauber. Both racing teams announced this on Tuesday.

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