Kimi Raikkonen: 'I've practiced leaving Ferrari already'

Kimi Raikkonen has said he is “not sad” about his upcoming last race with Ferrari and has already experienced leaving them already.

Raikkonen, who remains Ferrari’s last World Champion, is swapping seats with Charles Leclerc following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend.

But the Finn is typically not getting emotional about saying goodbye, especially when he already did it once back in 2009.

“I have practice from leaving them once already, so it’s not a new thing,” Raikkonen said in the FIA press conference at the Yas Marina circuit.

“I’m not sad because I don’t see why we’d need to be sad. Well still see a lot of each other in the paddock, so not an awful lot changes.

“I’m going for a new thing and that’s exciting.

Sebastian Vettel savouring his last few days with Kimi Raikkonen as his Ferrari team-mate ? #F1 pic.twitter.com/oQpikyW28x

— Planet F1 (@Planet_F1) November 22, 2018

“Obviously I had good times with the team, with great people but we also had some difficult times too but that’s part of the business, how it goes sometimes…it can be a little bit hard.

“I’ve won the championship with them as a driver, also we’ve won twice as a team. I was very happy to be a part of it and we had some great times too.

“We’ll happily go different ways and not too far from each other. We’ll keep doing what we’re doing and it will be good.”

Raikkonen currently occupies third spot in the World Championship standings, with 14 points separating himself and fellow Finn Valtteri Bottas in P4.

‘The Iceman’ is not particularly bothered about winning that particular battle.

“I don’t think it’s changing my world,” Raikkonen added.

“I’ve heard that if I get that third place I’ll have to go and get that prize giving wherever it is.

“That’s the negative thing, more travelling. If it comes to it, so be it.”

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