It’s time for Ferrari to replace Raikkonen – Coulthard

It’s time for Ferrari to drop Kimi Raikkonen in favour of some fresh, young blood according to the Finn’s former team-mate at McLaren, David Coulthard.

Raikkonen’s contract is due for renewal at the end of the season, but it’s uncertain whether Ferrari will choose to retain the 2007 world champion following a less than impressive start to the current season.

Coulthard feels it is time for Raikkonen to retire from Formula 1 (again), citing his own career as evidence that when you get to a certain point in your racing career, you can’t match the younger drivers around you.

“I think it’s time for change,” said the Scottish driver turned broadcaster.

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“I’m not anti-Kimi at all, but having lived through that experience myself, there’s a point in your career where you just stop getting better.

“It happened to me in my career; I was never the best driver, but there was certainly a point at the end where you just lose the edge.

“The facts are that whether it’s bad luck or something else, he hasn’t delivered in the last couple of years at the level he did in his previous career.”

When asked who would be a prime candidate to replace Raikkonen, Coulthard named Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg and Williams’ Valtteri Bottas as the best options.

“The question is, is Kimi better value for money for Ferrari than say a Hulkenberg or a Bottas? One of these younger guys who are on the rise,” he added.