Raikkonen retained by Ferrari for 2018

Ferrari have announced that Kimi Raikkonen is to remain with the team for another year, and will race for them until the end of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship.

It will be Raikkonen’s fifth consecutive season with the Italian squad, whom he rejoined for their 2014 campaign, having previously raced for them between 2007 and 2009, winning the world title in his first year with the Scuderia.

It means the Finn’s driver partnership with Sebastian Vettel will continue for a fourth season, assuming Vettel also stays on with Ferrari for 2018 – something considered highly likely, especially in light of Raikkonen being retained.

The pair have formed a strong bond at Maranello, and though it is Vettel currently leading the drivers’ championship, Raikkonen has also been very much on form of late, finishing on the podium at the last two rounds.

Despite his recent upswing in performance, however, Raikkonen has not won for Ferrari during his current stint with the team, his last victory in red coming at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix.

In total, nine of his 20 F1 career victories have been with Ferrari. He won another nine with McLaren early in his career, and two with Lotus in 2012-13.

Raikkonen's 122 starts for the Prancing Horse, meanwhile, place him third on the team's all-time list, behind only Michael Schumacher (179) and Felipe Massa (139).