Raikkonen: I’ve practiced leaving Ferrari already

Raikkonen not said to be leaving Ferrari

In Thursday's Abu Dhabi GP press conference Kimi Raikkonen said he is “not sad" about his upcoming last race with Ferrari and has already experienced leaving them already.

Raikkonen already did it once back in 2009.

“I have practice from leaving them once already, so it’s not a new thing," Raikkonen said at the Yas Marina circuit.

“I’m not sad because I don’t see why we’d need to be sad. Well still see a lot of each other in the paddock, so not an awful lot changes.

“I’m going for a new thing and that’s exciting.

“Obviously I had good times with the team, with great people but we also had some difficult times too but that’s part of the business, how it goes sometimes…it can be a little bit hard.

“I’ve won the championship with them as a driver, also we’ve won twice as a team. I was very happy to be a part of it and we had some great times too.

“We’ll happily go different ways and not too far from each other. We’ll keep doing what we’re doing and it will be good."

Raikkonen currently occupies third spot in the World Championship standings, with 14 points separating himself and fellow Finn Valtteri Bottas in P4.

‘The Iceman’ is not particularly bothered about winning that particular battle.

“I don’t think it’s changing my world," Raikkonen added.

“I’ve heard that if I get that third place I’ll have to go and get that prize giving wherever it is.

“That’s the negative thing, more traveling. If it comes to it, so be it."