Kimi Räikkönen expressed that leaving Ferrari was a relief for him. After winning the 2007 World Championship with the team, his performance declined, leading to an early termination of his contract in 2009 to make way for Fernando Alonso. Reflecting on his time at Ferrari, Räikkönen mentioned that while he had some good moments, leaving was a relief due to strained relationships within the team.
After departing from Ferrari, Räikkönen took a break from Formula 1, participating in the World Rally Championship and NASCAR. He returned to F1 in 2012 with Lotus, where he found a more enjoyable working environment, free from the politics he experienced at Ferrari.
In 2018, Räikkönen secured his final F1 victory at the United States Grand Prix. Despite this success, he was content with his decision to leave Ferrari at the end of that season, looking forward to new challenges with Sauber, a team located close to his home, which allowed him to spend more time with his family.
Overall, Räikkönen’s feelings of relief and happiness about leaving Ferrari stemmed from a desire for a different working environment and the opportunity to be closer to his family.
