KIMI STAYS AT FERRARI FOR 2018 WHAT A SURPRISE!

Kimi Raikkonen will remain with Ferrari for the 2018 Formula One season, the Italian manufacturer announced on Tuesday, just six weeks after their president criticized the former world champion and described him as a “bit of a laggard”.

Raikkonen, who turns 38 years old before the end of the current season, was due to be out of contract in three months’ time but will remain with the Scuderia for a fifth consecutive year after his return in 2014.

Ferrari issued a short statement to confirm the announcement, which read: “Scuderia Ferrari has renewed its technical and racing agreement with Kimi Raikkonen. The Finnish driver will therefore race for the Maranello team in the 2018 Formula One World Championship.”

The decision is not a complete surprise, although it does call into question the Finn’s relationship with Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne given his previous comments made at the Austraian Grand Prix last month.

“I think Kimi has got to show a higher level of commitment to the process,” Marchionne told reporters. “There are days when I think he’s a bit of a laggard, but we’ll see.”