![\"Kimi-Raikkonen-3\"](\"https:\/\/www.racinginfocus.com\/rif\/gallery\/f1-2013-rif-images\/f1-2013-drivers\/Kimi-Raikkonen-3.jpg\")
In a brief statement at the end of a frenzied period of media speculation, Ferrari said the Finn – who won his world title in a red car in 2007 – will be Fernando Alonso’s teammate “for the next two racing seasons”.<\/p>\nFerrari on Wednesday announced the highly-anticipated news that Kimi Raikkonen will rejoin the Italian team in 2014.<\/p>\n
In a brief statement at the end of a frenzied period of media speculation, Ferrari said the Finn – who won his world title in a red car in 2007 – will be Fernando Alonso’s teammate “for the next two racing seasons”.<\/p>\n
“Welcome back, Kimi!” read the headline at the Maranello based team’s official website.<\/p>\n
Raikkonen, now 33, entered a two-year rallying and Nascar sabbatical after the 2009 season, when Ferrari paid out the final year of his contract in order to welcome Alonso and his Spanish sponsor Santander.<\/p>\n
It has been reported that Alonso, widely regarded as Ferrari’s ‘number 1’ alongside the now-departing Felipe Massa, strongly resisted the signing of Raikkonen.<\/p>\n
Despite having a long contract, he was linked with protest moves to Red Bull, Lotus and even a return to McLaren, where he clashed memorably with boss Ron Dennis and rookie teammate Lewis Hamilton in 2007.<\/p>\n
So while Ferrari was welcoming Raikkonen back, Alonso lamented the end of his four-season relationship with Brazilian Massa.<\/p>\n
Captioning a photo montage of their time together, Alonso said on Twitter on Wednesday: “All the luck for the next years!<\/p>\n
“You will be a strong opponent in any team!\u00a0 And we still have 7 GPs to have some fun!”<\/p>\n
And, still referring to Massa, Alonso was quoted by F1’s official website: “Come the end of the season, it will not be easy to say goodbye to a teammate like him.”<\/p>\n
Former F1 team owner and boss Eddie Jordan, however, doubts Raikkonen will cause Alonso any grief.<\/p>\n
“Kimi is no politician,” he told Germany’s Auto Bild.\u00a0 “There will not be any problems if they just let him be.”<\/p>\n
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