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Kimi Raikkonen will miss out on a farewell from the Tifosi faithful after being ruled out of this weekend's Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix.
A veteran of eight seasons with Ferrari across two stints, Raikkonen is the Scuderia's most recent champion, having pipped Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to win the 2007 title.
The 41-year-old announced last week that this would be his final F1 season, having driven for Alfa Romeo since 2019.
However, he will remain sidelined for Monza due to the COVID-19 diagnosis that kept him from competing at Zandvoort last weekend.
Robert Kubica will again substitute; the Pole having done a solid job on short notice in the Netherlands.
“Kimi missed last week's race in Zandvoort after testing positive to COVID-19 and has not yet been cleared for a return to racing,” read a statement from Alfa Romeo Racing.
“As per health authority requirements, he is still isolating in his home.”
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Kubica, winner of the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix, is looking forward to building on his efforts from Zandvoort.
“First of all, I want to share my best wishes for Kimi: I hope he makes a full recovery and returns to the cockpit soon,” he said.
“I am looking forward to racing in Monza, an incredible track in which I claimed my first podium, in 2006.
“Unlike Zandvoort, it is a track I know well and this will help, particularly since the Sprint Qualifying weekend format means we will be one practice session short.
“I am happy with what I did in Holland and I can't wait to help the team out one more time in Monza.”
Kubica's team-mate will be Antonio Giovinazzi, who starred in qualifying seventh for the Dutch Grand Prix.
Track action commences with Free Practice 1 tomorrow at 22:30 (AEST) – the sole session before qualifying takes place.