Kimi Raikkonen confirms he'll stay at Ferrari to the end of 2016
Scuderia confirm their driver line-up will remain the same with German Sebastian Vettel and Finn in top seats
Kimi Raikkonen expressed his love for Ferrari after the Formula One team said the Finn would be staying with them next year in an unchanged line-up with Germany's Sebastian Vettel.
"What can I say?... for me, to be able to stay another year at Ferrari means that the dream goes on," the 35-year-old said on the team website after an announcement that caught the sport off guard.
"The Scuderia [team] is my family, as I always said, it's here [that] I want to end my career. I am more committed than ever and I want to say thank you to the people who gave me this chance."
Raikkonen was out of contract at the end of 2015 and facing an uncertain future, with media speculation focusing on who might replace the "Iceman" at one of the most coveted seats.
Instead, a short statement from Maranello forced a rethink.
"Scuderia Ferrari announces that it has renewed its technical and racing agreement with Kimi Raikkonen," the team said as the paddock regrouped in Spa-Francorchamps for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.