Kimi Räikkönen, widely recognised as “The Iceman” due to his cool demeanour, is an illustrious figure in the world of Formula One racing.
Born on 17 October 1979 in Finland, Räikkönen has left an indelible mark on the sport with his remarkable driving skills and impressive records. He began in Formula One with Sauber-Petronas in 2001, bringing a relatively limited experience of just 23 car races to the grid.
| Nationality | Finnish |
| Born | Kimi-Matias Räikkönen 17 October 1979 Espoo, Finland |
|---|
His entry into Formula One was characterised by drivers of his skills with a move in 2002, where he joined the historic McLaren-Mercedes team. He emerged as a strong title contender, finishing second in the championship in both 2003 and 2005, trailing behind legends Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso, respectively. However, Räikkönen’s tenure at McLaren was plagued by issues of car reliability, which ultimately led to his pivotal move to Ferrari in 2007.
Joining Ferrari marked a turning point in Räikkönen’s career. In his debut season with the team, he achieved the pinnacle of success by winning the 2007 Formula One World Championship. This triumph was especially dramatic as he edged out both McLaren drivers—Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso—by a mere point. The following year, Räikkönen showcased his exceptional skills by equaling the record for the most number of fastest laps in a season, a feat he had achieved earlier.
Despite a victory at the Belgian Grand Prix in 2009, Räikkönen faced challenges with the less competitive Ferrari F60, leading him to take a break from Formula One after that season. However, his passion for racing was undiminished, as evidenced by his return to the sport in 2012 with Lotus F1. During his time with Lotus, Räikkönen not only brought the team their only victories but also re-established himself as a top-tier driver.
In a remarkable turn of events, Ferrari re-signed Räikkönen in 2013 for a two-year contract, which was later extended to 2018. His second stint with Ferrari was marked by consistent performances, with 26 podium finishes, two pole positions, and a memorable victory at the 2018 United States Grand Prix—his first win after a gap of 113 Grand Prix. Throughout his eight-year association with Ferrari, Räikkönen remained a consistent top-four finisher, concluding his tenure with a third-place finish in the 2018 championship.
Following his time with Ferrari, Räikkönen joined Alfa Romeo Racing. His contract with Alfa Romeo, initially for two years, was extended until his retirement from Formula One at the end of the 2021 season. Beyond Formula One, Räikkönen explored other racing disciplines. He competed in the World Rally Championship, driving for Citroën’s Junior Team and ICE 1 Racing. Despite being relatively new to rallying, he managed impressive results, including a stage win and a tenth-place finish in the championship for two consecutive seasons.
Räikkönen’s venture into NASCAR further exemplified his versatile racing skills. He made appearances in the Camping World Truck Series and the Nationwide Series in 2011 and later in the Cup Series in 2022 and 2023.
Throughout his career, Kimi Räikkönen has distinguished himself as a driver of exceptional talent and determination. His achievements in Formula One, particularly his 2007 World Championship win, his numerous podium finishes, fastest laps, and a remarkable record of race starts, have cemented his legacy as the most successful Finnish Formula One driver and a prominent figure in the world of motorsports. His reserved personality, combined with his reluctance for public relations events, only added to the enigmatic and respected persona of “The Iceman.”
Kimi Räikkönen Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 2001–2009, 2012–2021 |
|---|---|
| Teams | Sauber, McLaren, Ferrari, Lotus, Alfa Romeo |
| Entries | 353 (349 starts) |
| Championships | 1 (2007) |
| Wins | 21 |
| Podiums | 103 |
| Career points | 1873 |
| Pole positions | 18 |
| Fastest laps | 46 |
| First entry | 2001 Australian Grand Prix |
| First win | 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix |
| Last win | 2018 United States Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
