Kimi Raikkonen will return to Ferrari next year to pick up where he left off at the end of 2009.

Raikkonen’s first spell at the team got off to a brilliant start as he won on his debut in Melbourne (above) and overcame considerable odds late in the season to clinch the title by a single point.

His championship defence began well with two wins in the first four races. But he never saw the top step of the podium again that season and a string of four consecutive no-scores left him playing a supporting role to team mate Felipe Massa.

Few wins were on offer with the uncompetitive F60 the following year but he clinched one victory at Spa-Francorchamps – his fourth win on the Belgian track. At the end of the year Ferrari cut his contract short to hire Fernando Alonso.

Four years on, he is set to return as Alonso’s team mate. Here are pictures of Raikkonen’s first stint at Ferrari:

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Images ?�?� Ferrari spa/Ercole Colombo