Former champion Kimi Raikkonen to have back surgery, will miss last 2 races of F1 season
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will have back surgery and miss the final two races of the Formula One season.
Lotus said in a statement Sunday that Raikkonen will skip next week's United States Grand Prix and the season-ending Brazilian GP at the end of this month. The team has not said who will race in his place.
The 34-year-old Raikkonen has had back pain in recent months and almost missed the Singapore GP in September when the problem flared again.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Raikkonen's Lotus career, in effect, is over. He will drive for Ferrari next year.