While Ferrari usually uses the Monza weekend to reveal its driver line-up for the following season, this year there were no such announcements.

Instead, on a weekend Kimi Raikkonen took an emphatic pole and shut down teammate Sebastian Vettel at the start next day, speculation that the Finn would be retained for next season turned on its head with claims Charles Leclerc will be brought in to partner the German.

Indeed, some have suggested this was the motivation behind Raikkonen not yielding to his teammate on Sunday.

While rival teams should be jumping at the opportunity to sign a driver as experienced, fast and no-nonsense as Raikkonen, should he not be retained by Ferrari there is every likelihood he will walk away from F1 (again).

Asked if he would miss Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, who enjoyed a cat and mouse Italian Grand Prix with the Finn, was surprisingly forthcoming.

"Would I miss Kimi?" said the Briton. "I think it's always a difficult question to say if you miss someone. I think the sport would naturally miss him, yeah...

"I made it no secret that before I even got to Formula One I was always playing... when I was playing the Playstation I was always Kimi in the McLaren, imagining that was me. And then I remember the first car at McLaren which was Kimi's set-up and the suspension that he would use, which was... I remember it like it was yesterday.

"It was an amazing experience and it was cool because I think our driving style was kinda similar, which meant that I ended up being quite comfortable with the set-up that he used back then.

"So, y'know, he's had an incredible career and it's been a real honour to race against a great Finn such as him - but he looks like he's just ice-cold.

"He's just got plenty of years left in him. He's not seeming to age. I don't know what it is about Finnish people. I think it's the sauna and the ice thing. Yeah!"

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Ferrari Finn, 07/09/2018 17:13

"Der er ikke nogen tvivl Kimi skal til Haas, Gunther nu må du træde i karakter og skrive kontrakt med Kimi og Kevin"

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2. Posted by mickl, 07/09/2018 13:15 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 07/09/2018 17:32)

"I just like to imagine, every time Vettel walks past him, Kimi mutters under his breathe "I'm still the last Ferrari world champion..""

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3. Posted by gormsen, 07/09/2018 9:28 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 07/09/2018 17:32)

"This comment was removed by an administrator as it was judged to have broken the site's posting rules and etiquette."

Rating: Positive (1)

4. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 06/09/2018 19:42

"As long as Ferrari are getting the results they are, why get rid of Kimi? Not often does a team get two world champions. "

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5. Posted by BillH, 06/09/2018 18:03

"There will be pressure on the F1 bosses to make sure Kimi stays in F1.
To lose one popular, top driver (Alonso) is not good, to lose another (Raikonnen) would be plain careless.
I've talked to a fellow F1 fan earlier in the week about Monza and while we were both happy that Hamilton and Merc had a win, we would have been just as happy if Raikonnen had done so, even though he drives for Ferrari.
Oddly, and for reasons neither of us could explain, we weren't as keen on Vettel winning even though we both agreed he is an excellent driver and we don't hold anything against him. We just put it down to wanting Kimi to win more, maybe because it has been a while since he last did so."

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6. Posted by Mocha, 06/09/2018 16:37

"He's been my favorite driver ever I saw my first F1 race. I didn't know much about the sport, but I gathered that Michael Schumacher and Ferrari had been dominating for a while. There was one solitary car that was keeping up. I assumed that K. Raikkonen was a veteran driver. A past champion and the only driver seasoned enough be on Schumacher's level.

Imagine my surprise... "

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7. Posted by Peter Rickitt, 06/09/2018 15:12

"KIMI- PLEASE DO NOT RETIRE !
The sport needs stars like you, who keep their mouths shut, don't sulk in public and have quiet style and skill.
I still believe you would enjoy and succeed in a post-retirement senior management and shareholder career at Williams, where two more driving seasons as a prelude to such would serve both of you well and produce surprise turnarounds - they share your quiet-demeanoured racing DNA and you will have fun as well as reward if you become a shareholder.
Come on Kimi, give Frank his swansong."

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8. Posted by Batman, 06/09/2018 14:33

"Leave me alone, I know what I'm doing!"

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9. Posted by imejl99, 06/09/2018 13:07

"In my opinion, Ferrari or retire. If Vettel wins this year, Kimi should try to win next year with Seb as No2, and to ride into the sunset. He IS 38. And HAAS? HAAS is powered by Ferrari, I think that at first hint of outperforming with HAAS, Ferrari would probably supply C spec, and HAAS would suffer as a team...."

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10. Posted by Greg, 06/09/2018 11:15

"It would be a great step forward for HAAS as F@QITW8 stated. Bring lots of experience and feedback to the team "

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11. Posted by FQITW, 06/09/2018 11:04

"HAAS has to step up to the plate here.

Instantly they would get speed, race-winning pedigree, calmness, good feedback, excellent marketing with arguably F1’s favourite driver and solid progress going forward.

Kimi is still a class act and the team would get behind him 100% I am sure.

C’mon Carl/Gunther you know it makes sense!
"

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Hamilton: F1 will miss Kimi

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