As Kimi Raikkonen arrived for the opening practice session for Friday’s British Grand he did so on the back of good news, good official news that is. Ferrari have opted to keep Kimi Raikkonen for the 2017 season on a one year contract extension. Raikkonen, at 36, is now nearing the end of his Formula One career and his future had been under scrutiny for much of this year. Mainly by a bored media circus with nothing better to write about. Ferrari have opted for stability and experience over youth. Raikkonen seem’s not to have lost any pace or his miserable persona that makes him a fan favourite. Raikkonen won Ferrari’s last driver championship in 2007 when he drove for the team between 2007-2009. During 2010-2011 Raikkkonen took a year out of F1 and decided to try his luck at Rallying but in the end F1 called and he eventually returned to Lotus for 2012-2013. At Lotus Raikkonen showed he had lost none of his pace putting in competitive performances and this is when Ferrari came calling for a return in 2014, it was an offer the Fin could not refuse. When He re-joined Ferrari for the second time as then team mate to Fernando Alonso Raikkonen was completely shaded by the Spaniard. Raikkonen’s current contract had come to an end it was speculated that Ferrari would opt to sign either  Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz or Daniel Ricciardo. However Ferrari would have had to get involved in contract negotiations not only with the drivers but also the respective teams for whom they drive and this would have been costly. Raikkonen’s form and speed has been very quick and consistent so far this year and this helped Ferrari decide to retain the Fin’s services for another year at least. It may well be that 2017 is Raikkonen’s final year in Formula One. A sporting career is always short so it should come as no surprise that eventually Raikkonen will call it a day. When he does F1 will move on as if he had never existed.