The Finn will break Rubens Barrichello’s record of 322 race starts at the Eifel Grand Prix this weekend, and sources have hinted that he has accepted an option to stay with Alfa Romeo for 2021.
His plans to stay with the Swiss team could be confirmed on Friday.
Raikkonen joined Alfa Romeo in early 2019 after his previous Ferrari team replaced him with Charles Leclerc.
Alfa Romeo may not have delivered the strong results Raikkonen had hoped for, but the 2007 World Champion has shown himself to be fast enough and motivated.
Last year his best result was fourth place in the chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix, when it brought Alfa Romeo to eighth place in the constructors’ championship.
This season was tougher as Alfa Romeo was hit with the drop in Ferrari’s engine power.
Raikkonen’s best result so far was ninth at the Tuscan GP in Mugello last month.
While Raikkonen is ready to stay, it goes without saying that Alfa Romeo has not yet made a final decision on who his teammate will be, with both Antonio Giovinazzi and Mick Schumacher in the running.
As part of its partnership with Ferrari, the Maranello team has the right to put one of its young drivers in an Alfa Romeo cockpit.
It is checked whether one should stay with Giovinazzi or promote Schumacher from Formula 2.
Schumacher has his first run in an F1 practice session with Alfa Romeo in Germany this weekend.
Should Ferrari grant Giovinazzi a respite, Schumacher could be another option to land at Haas, who also has close ties to Ferrari.
The American-owned team is considering a completely new driver line-up for next year and has been linked to one of the Ferrari up-and-coming drivers.
It’s giving Briton Callum Ilott a run in free practice at the Nürburgring, and Robert Schwartzman will run either Haas or Alfa Romeo in Abu Dhabi.
