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Raikkonen: Ferrari contract waiting game ‘no different than any other year’

Kimi Raikkonen says that waiting to hear from Ferrari regarding his Formula 1 future is "no different" in 2017 to any other year.

Raikkonen has been on a rolling one-year contract with Ferrari since the end of 2015, with his future and motivation for racing in F1 being a regular talking point in the annual driver market ‘silly season'.

The Finn is understood to be closing in on a contract extension beyond the end of this season, but is relaxed about his future, saying the matter is not in his hands.

"[It's] no different than any year. It's not really my decision," Raikkonen said.

"The team knows what is my preferred option, and then [we'll] see what happens."

F1 championship leader Sebastian Vettel wants to see Raikkonen stay at Ferrari for 2018, the pair having formed a friendly partnership over the past three seasons.

While Vettel is also out of contract at the end of the season, Ferrari CEO and chairman Sergio Marchionne hinted that a renewal for both drivers may be close, with an announcement possible over the Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza.

Zdroj: crash.net