Good to return to F1 after recovering from COVID: Raikkonen

Raikkonen was at the Grand Prix of Holland and Italy by the Polish reserve driver Robert Kubica. replaced

Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen will return to the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi this weekend after missing the last two Formula 1 races due to a positive COVID-19 test.

The 2007 world champion said on September 23 that it was good to get back behind the wheel.

“Of course nobody wants to test positive, but it happened and we had to stick to the rules – but that’s all in the past and now my focus is on Sochi,” said the 41-year-old Finn in a team press release.

“The team has shown potential in the last few races, we have to translate that into a good result now.

“I don’t think it will feel any different to be back, I just want to keep my job and hopefully have a good race,” he said.

Alfa Romeo is ninth of 10 teams and Raikkonen scored two of his three points in 2021. Raikkonen is retiring at the end of the season and his compatriot Valtteri Bottas is leaving Mercedes to take his place at Alfa Romeo.

He was replaced by the Polish reserve driver Robert Kubica for the Dutch and Italian Grand Prix.

Alfa has yet to confirm its second driver for 2022 as the future of Italian Antonio Giovinazzi is uncertain.