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BARCELONA, SPAIN -Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and Alfa Romeo Racing looks on at the roll out of the Alfa Romeo Racing C39 Ferrari during day one of Formula 1 Winter Testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
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BARCELONA, SPAIN -Kimi Raikkonen of Finland and Alfa Romeo Racing looks on at the roll out of the Alfa Romeo Racing C39 Ferrari during day one of Formula 1 Winter Testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
Kimi Raikkonen, at 41 years of age, is the oldest Formula 1 driver on the grid. The former champion will continue his partnership with Alfa Romeo alongside Antonio Giovinazzi, just as he has been doing since 2019. The Italian in a recent interview expressed the importance of having the Iceman as his teammate.
The team finished in P8 of the championship standing; Giovinazzi and Raikkonen both claimed four points each last season. The Italian is looking forward to his third season with Alfa Romeo and believes having Kimi Raikkonen alongside will help him develop as a driver.
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Formula One F1 – Sakhir Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi during an interview before practice FIA/Handout via REUTERS
“[With] Kimi again beside me next season I think I can still do another step.
“It will be really important to watch him because I think, like I’ve said many times, he’s still one of the best on the grid, especially on the race pace and managing the race. I’m happy to continue with him,” he said.
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Giovinazzi admits to following in the footsteps of Kimi Raikkonen
At 41 years, Raikkonen has recorded 329 Formula 1 starts, the most by any driver. Since 2019, he has been teammates with the most experienced driver on the grid and was often seen mimicking the iceman’s approach to the race.
However, in 2020, the Italian driver charted his own way as he made a name for gaining at least a position during the starting lap. “When I came here [in 2019] I tried to focus more on Kimi’s side,” said Giovinazzi.
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Formula One F1 – Sakhir Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen during an interview before practice FIA/Handout via REUTERS
“But [in 2020] I’d got more experience and I know what they want and what I like more – especially in the different tracks and different conditions. It was again a good step this season, but I think next year I will feel again a lot more confident,” concluded the Italian driver.
Experience plays an important role in building a Formula 1 driver. Giovinazzi has been improving through his years in F1 and learning from his experienced teammate. Meanwhile, Raikkonen will complete two decades of Formula 1 racing this season. Do you think the iceman will go for another season in Formula 1?
