Xevi Pujolar, Head of Route Technology Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN, says the team is still awaiting a decision from Kimi Raikkonen about his future with them beyond the current campaign.
The 2007 Formula 1 World Champion joined Alfa Romeo after retiring at the start of the 2019 season Scuderia Ferrari and has since scored forty-eight points, finishing twelfth in the final standings in his freshman year with the team.
He has just one point to his credit so far in 2021 thanks to a tenth place finish of the season Azerbaijan Grand Prix, although unfortunately he deserved a penalty Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna that relegated him from ninth to thirteenth place.
Raikkonen’s motivation and commitment to racing remain clear and Pujolar says he’s still performing strongly despite being the oldest driver on the grid and the most experienced driver in the history of the sport.
“I don’t know what his plans are and I can’t speak for him,” Pujolar is quoted as saying by Grandpx.news.
“But at the moment he has no motivation problem, he works well with the team and last week he did a great job in the race.”
According to Pujolar, the team is looking for ways to help Raikkonen in qualifying this year, with Saturday’s session appearing to be a weak point of the weekend for the experienced Finn and for Alfa Romeo as a whole.
“We will change a few things to help him in qualifying,” said Pujolar. “If both cars go into the second session, that helps the team a lot.
“For us it’s all about overtaking Williams in qualifying so that everything can go much better in the race.”
