Raikkonen May Quit Racing After Father's Death

Kimi Raikkonen may put his racing career on hold following the death of his father Matti, two days before Christmas. According to major Finnish newspaper Iltalehti, it seems that the 31-year old rally driver is seriously reconsidering his plans for 2011 because of the unfortunate event that affected his personal life in recent weeks.

On December 23, his 56-year old father died unexpectedly and left behind a grief-stricken Kimi Raikkonen. The two were reportedly very close to each other, as Kimi's father had helped him throughout his racing career, from an early age. Matti Raikkonen was a road builder.

“Since the death of Matti Raikkonen, all the plans (of Kimi Raikkonen) are on ice,” recently admitted the Finn's rally co-driver Kaj Lindstrom.

“Let's hope he stays in rallying. The chances of success are much better in the second year than the first, because you don't have to be learning all sorts of things all of the time,” he added.

Before his father's death, Raikkonen was contemplating a switch from Citroen to Ford for his second consecutive campaign in the World Rally Championship. In his first season in the WRC, the Finn struggled to keep his car on the road, recording several DNFs in his 13 starts for Citroen Junior Team (backed by sponsor Red Bull).

In a recent interview with the media, he admitted that his first campaign in the WRC turned him into a better racer and that he hopes to continue driving in the WRC in 2011. As for the future, he did not close the door on a potential return to F1.