Kimi Raikkonen set to be reunited with fellow F1 drivers

Prior to the Monaco Grand Prix, Kimi Raikkonen will take part in an F1 reunion by featuring in a charity football match alongside fellow drivers.

Kimi Raikkonen will make his Formula 1 return next week ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, however, he won’t be behind the wheel of an F1 car.

The Finnish driver, who retired at the end of last season, is taking part in the ‘Star Team for the Children’ association charity football match.

The 2007 World Champion will be lining-up in the ‘Pilotes de F1’ team, which features fourteen current Formula 1 drivers.

The team includes 2021 World Champion Max Verstappen, 2005/06 World Champion Fernando Alonso and 2010/11/12/13 World Champion Sebastian Vettel.

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Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Daniel Ricciardo, Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz, Valtteri Bottas, Lance Stroll, George Russell, Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher are scheduled to join them in the F1-based team.

A number of other ex-Formula 1 drivers will also be making an appearance at the charity match, including, 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg, 1998/99 World Champion Mika Hakkinen, Felipe Massa, Giancarlo Fisichella, Robert Kubica, Stoffel Vandoorne, Nico Hulkenberg, Daniil Kvyat and Jerome D’Ambrosio.

Former Juventus midfielder Oscar Damiani has been given the impossible task of managing the Formula 1 team at the Stade Louis II on 24 May.

The opposition will be coached by Claudio Ranieri, who famously won the Premier League in 2016 with Leicester City.

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Formula 1 team principals will be hoping that none of their star drivers get injured during the event, in what would be a highly embarrassing moment for both driver and team.

It will be the 29th edition of the charity match, whilst the Star Team for the Children association celebrates its 30th anniversary.

It remains to be seen whether Raikkonen will stay in Monaco after the event for the Grand Prix, this comes after the Finnish driver told Bild at the end of last season that he “may never set foot in the paddock again”.

“I may never set foot in the paddock again. Formula 1 was never my life. There were always things that were more important to me. Nothing will change about that.

“I didn’t stop because I didn’t have the strength but because I have better things to do than sit on planes and stay in hotels.

“I’m just glad it’s over. Even the fact I couldn’t finish the last race [in Abu Dhabi] doesn’t matter,” he added.