An electrical problem was deemed responsible for the problem that brought Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari swansong to a premature end at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Sunday’s 2018 Formula 1 finale at Yas Marina was Raikkonen’s last outing for the team with which he has been with for eight seasons, across two stints.
Raikkonen maintained fourth position at the start but his SF71H slowed shortly after the restart and he ceded a spot to 2019 replacement Charles Leclerc.
Raikkonen’s car lasted only a handful of corners more as he crawled to a halt along the pit straight and eventually climbed out of the stricken vehicle.
“Obviously I’m a bit disappointed,” said Raikkonen.
“It’s not the way we wanted this last race together to finish. We wanted to do well and I think we would have had a pretty good car for the job.
“Unfortunately we had an electrical issue; in the back straight, I felt I was lacking power and then everything shut down.
“It’s a pity but that’s how racing goes sometimes.”
Raikkonen, who will test for 2019 team Sauber at Yas Marina this week, nonetheless held on to third place in the Drivers’ Championship, two points clear of Max Verstappen.
“It’s been a pretty decent season, but the four retirements were not in our plans and obviously did not help,” he said.
“I want to thank all the Ferrari fans who always gave me a lot of support.
“We went through good and bad times together, and this makes it all the more interesting.
“Of course we wanted a better finish, but that’s part of the sport.
“We will always have the memories of winning the Drivers’ Championship and two Constructors' Championships together.”
