Kimi Raikkonen heads into 2021 as the driver with the most starts in the history of Formula One. The Finn took the record from Rubens Barrichello at the Eifel Grand Prix last year and has amassed a remarkable 329 starts in the sport to this point. 

After rejoining Alfa Romeo in 2019, where he started his career under the Sauber name at the Swiss-based team, it looked like a promising reunion. He scored eight points finishes in the first twelve events as he regularly starred in the midfield battle. 

However, since the summer break of 2019 and all the way through 2020, Alfa Romeo dropped away from the midfield tussle and the 2007 World Champion has finished in the points only three times in his last twenty-six starts. A measly total of four points in 2020 left him down in P16 in the standings, by far the worst season of his career points-wise.  

Despite that miserable run, the Finnish star showed plenty of fighting spirit; he challenged and beat the Ferraris on several occasions last year. 

With 2021 set to be another tough season for Alfa Romeo, he points to the fact that with Mercedes so dominant since the beginning of the V6 era, it's hard to win plenty of races with any of the other top teams.  

"Even if you drive for a top team, there is no guarantee that you can win races," Raikkonen said to Formule 1 magazine. "Because currently one team dominates and the other 18 cars have little chance. So yes, sometimes you win races and sometimes you don't, but it's rare at all.’’ 

Raikkonen added that he still enjoys the driving and having the opportunity to help the team improve the car means he’s happy to carry on for a 19th season in Formula One; his second spell will now be longer than his first period in the sport. 

''Either way, I still enjoy the driving and the work,’’ Raikkonen continued. Everything that helps to make the car faster, or to drive better. That is why I am still doing it and why I want to keep going." 

As Raikkonen has continually stated throughout his career, he’ll call it a day when he longer enjoys the racing.  

"If I didn't like it anymore, I would stop," he said. "That seems logical to me. Then I wouldn't waste my time travelling around the world. That is the condition for me to continue: that I like it."