After much speculation, the rumours have officially been put to bed as Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN confirmed Antonio Giovinazzi and Kimi Räikkönen will continue to race with them in 2021.
Many thought the Swiss team would opt for a fresher line-up, with seven time world champion Michael Schumacher‘s son Mick tipped to join the team after a successful career in junior formulae. It was also doubted that Räikkönen would elongate his stint for next year, with the Finn firmly stating that he would only remain in the sport if he so wished.
However, all is well now as the team have finally and formally announced their drivers for 2021- writing off two more coveted seats in the world of Formula 1.
“Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN is more than a team to me, it is like a second family,” said Räikkönen after the news was announced.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe in the team’s project and in what we feel we can achieve together. This is a team that values hard work over words and this fits well with my style: I am looking forward to next year and hopefully making some steps forward towards the front of the midfield with the team.”
Giovinazzi was also thrilled to be confirmed for 2021, stating that he is ‘happy this relationship can continue for one more year’.
“The team has put a lot of faith in me and I have done my best to repay this confidence with hard work and commitment: we have achieved some good results and I feel I have done my part to make the team progress, but the road ahead is still long and there is much more we want to achieve together.
He concluded: “There will be a lot of continuity between this season and the next one, so everything we work on between now and the end of the year will already count for next, and we are ready to give it all we have.”
