Kimi Raikkonen will miss Austin and Brazil.

Kimi Raikkonen will miss the final races of 2013 (Photo: Andrew Ferraro/ Lotus F1)

Kimi Raikkonen will not race the final two Grand Prix of the season at Austin and Interlagos choosing instead to undergo surgery in order to remedy his recurring back problem, a result of a crash in 2001,  which flared up at the Singapore Grand Prix earlier this year.

Since the Abu Dhabi race, according to the Finnish paper Turun Sanomat which first broke the story,  Kimi's condition has worsened to the point where he cannot sleep without strong painkillers.

Raikkonen had just visited Maranello for a seat fitting for the 2014 car and no doubt this development was discussed with the team brass,  Ferrari must be relieved this can be taken care of now rather than later int he year, but there must be a question mark there.   Raikkonen will be operated in Austria.

So who will fill Raikkonen's seat for the final two races?   Will Lotus give their reserve driver, Davide Valsecchi a chance or will they try to make a deal with Saube perhaps, to have Hulkenberg drive?