Raikkonen still has motivation: 'Eight o'clock sharp in the simulator'

At 41, Kimi Raikkonen is the oldest driver on the Formula 1 grid, but his 'drive and motivation' are still top-notch says Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur.

"Kimi has become one of the mainstays of our simulator program. We have made great strides with that in recent months, and Kimi really plays a key role," Vasseur said in an interview with Formula1.co.uk. Raikkonen is thus the opposite of, for example, Lewis Hamilton who chooses to be in the simulator as little as possible.

"Now when we ask Kimi to be in the simulator at eight o'clock in the morning, he is there punctually at eight o'clock - with a smile on his face," says Vasseur. With his work behind the scenes, Raikkonen shows that he still wants to race in Formula 1. His contract with Alfa Romeo expires after this season as did teammate Antonio Giovinazzi. And it is not yet clear if the drivers will be back in the Alfa Romeo's next year.

According to the latest rumours, Alfa Romeo has already started talks with the management of Valtteri Bottas to bring the Finn to Hinwil. Bottas is under considerable pressure at Mercedes and he may well be replaced by George Russell.