F1 legend Kimi Raikkonen’s 20-year career ends in disappointment in Abu Dhabi with lap 27 retirement
KIMI RAIKKONEN suffered heartbreak in his final F1 race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 2007 world champion was forced to retire from the nail-biting race after clipping the barriers following a brake failure.
The Finn skidded off the track and into the barriers but he was able to nurse his Alfa Romeo back to the pits before taking his gloves and race helmet off on lap 27.
Raikkonen, 42, spent 20 years in F1 and walked away from the sport with a world title, 21 race wins and 103 podiums.
He posted a simple farewell message on his Instagram account following the finale at Yas Marina Circuit.
The caption read simply: “Goodbye Formula 1.”
Prior to the race, Raikkonen confessed he could not wait for the season to be over, so he could focus on life after F1.
He said: "I'm looking forward to getting the season done. It's nice that it comes to an end and I'm looking forward to the normal life after.
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"I think for sure my wife will be more emotional about it. I doubt that the kids will really care either way, I think they will find other things to do that are more interesting.
"They like coming to a warm country and being in a pool and other things but it's nice to have them here."
The Abu Dhabi race brought with it a thrilling conclusion to the latest F1 season after Max Verstappen pipped Lewis Hamilton on the last lap to claim the title.
But Hamilton’s Mercedes team immediately launched TWO protests after they claimed Verstappen and Red Bull had been handed an unfair advantage during a controversial safety car decision.