Alfa Romeo boss Frederic Vasseur says his squad will wait for Kimi Raikkonen to decide whether to continue in Formula 1 before finalizing the driver line-up for 2021.
Raikkonen is no longer under contract at the end of the season once his original two-year deal with Alfa Romeo expires and it remains undecided whether or not to extend his stint in F1.
Alfa Romeo is a likely landing place for those interested in the Ferrari Academy should Scuderia decide to promote one of their three Formula 2 front-runners, including Callum Ilott, Mick Schumacher and Robert Shwartzman, to F1 for the next year.
Antonio Giovinazzi’s future is also uncertain, but Vasseur said he was excited for the Hinwil-based team to continue with Raikkonen next season.
“You have some Ferrari drivers, junior drivers, but you have Kimi for us first to know what he wants to do and what we want to do with him and then we will see with the others,” Vasseur said before the Tuscan Grand Prix.
When asked whether Alfa Romeo Raikkonen will be kept if the Finn wants to stay in Formula 1, Vasseur replied: “Yes, of course.
“If we are all interested in working together and the cooperation is good, it makes sense to continue.
On the subject of matching items
“I won’t find anyone more experienced than Kimi. It has the advantage that the teammate is certainly less experienced than Kimi. “
ALSO SEE: What’s Next For Sergio Perez After Leaving Racing Point?
Sergio Perez is now a free agent for next year after it was revealed the Mexican on the Racing Point squad will be replaced by four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel when he is renamed Aston Martin next season.
Vasseur wasn’t sure if Alfa Romeo was interested in signing Perez. The team was also linked to Nico Hulkenberg, who is also aiming for a full-time return to the F1 grid after his brief comeback earlier this year.
On the subject of matching items
“I think Checo is interested in all available seats on the grid,” said Vasseur.
“I won’t move, I told you last week or the week before, in the course of September we will discuss the next year with our drivers and then decide together what we have to do.
“We certainly have many drivers on the list now.”
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