Kimi Raikkonen believes that Ferrari is finally starting to show signs of progress in Formula 1, after several years of frustrations. The former driver and 2007 F1 champion stated that he sees reasons for optimism in the recent performance of the Italian team, even with Mercedes still appearing as the main reference on the grid in 2026.
Read more F1: Hadjar apologized to Leclerc after dangerous maneuver in Montreal
The Finnish driver’s assessment gains weight due to the long period without titles experienced by Ferrari. The Maranello team has not won the drivers’ championship since Raikkonen’s campaign in 2007, while the last constructors’ title came in 2008.
Raikkonen definitively entered Ferrari’s history by winning the 2007 world championship, in an exciting decision in Brazil, benefiting from the dramatic outcome involving Lewis Hamilton in the final race of that season. Since then, several drivers have passed through the Italian team without managing to replicate the same success.
The Finn had two stints at Ferrari in Formula 1. The first took place between 2007 and 2009, before temporarily leaving the category to compete in Rally. Later, he returned to the team between 2014 and 2018, in a less victorious phase, although he achieved a remarkable win in Austin in 2018, before moving to Alfa Romeo in the final stretch of his career.
Read more F1: Stella clarifies Lambiase’s role at McLaren in 2028
After Raikkonen’s departure, important names took on the challenge of putting Ferrari back at the top of Formula 1, including Sebastian Vettel, Charles Leclerc, and more recently Lewis Hamilton. Despite this, the team has not yet managed to turn potential into titles.
Even so, the former driver believes that Ferrari’s current situation is more promising than in previous seasons. In 2024, the team contested the constructors’ championship until the final stage in Abu Dhabi, being defeated by McLaren only in the last race of the year.
In an interview with Quotidiano Nazionale, Raikkonen said he expected to see Ferrari quickly find a new champion after his departure from the team at the end of 2018. Despite the long wait, the 2007 champion said he perceives positive progress in the Italian structure: “When I left the team at the end of 2018, I expected them to quickly find my successor on the list of champions. That hasn’t happened yet, but from a distance I can now see encouraging signs,” concluded the former driver.
Read more F1: Brundle defends Russell’s reaction after retirement in Canada
