Kimi Out Of 2013 F1 Season With Back Op

Kimi Raikkonen will miss the final two races of the 2013 Formula season due to back surgery. The Finn was almost forced out of the Singapore Grand Prix in September due to the injury, which dates back to a testing crash for Sauber in 2001.

Instead of flying to Austin, Texas, for the United States Grand Prix, he will instead travel to Salzburg for the operation. The recovery time is expected to be four weeks, meaning that if he had waited until after the season, his preparations for 2014 and his return to Ferrari could have been compromised.

His manager Steve Robertson confirmed the news to Autosport:

"In an ideal world it would have been nice to finish the season with Lotus in the final two grand prix. However, due to the severe pain that Kimi is having, sadly it is not possible."

Nico Hulkenberg has been ruled out of replacing the Finn, so it looks likely that reserve driver and 2012 GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi will be promoted to the race seat.

Getter better soon, Iceman.