After making his highly talked about debut in 2001 with the Sauber team, Kimi Raikkonen will be departing the sport at the end of this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the season finale of a thrilling 2021 season. Raikkonen leaves Formula 1 with a reputation that won’t be touched, along with a character that could only fit the fair few.
Throughout his career, Raikkonen did what he wanted, when he wanted and how he wanted. His stance on that front did not change. You will do well to find a fan of the sport who dislike the Iceman.
Of course, his attitude was and is still different to any other driver. He can certainly get away with doing or saying things when others can not. When another driver sticks the universal sign up of displeasure with their finger, some see it has rude – but when Raikkonen does it, humour is the main outcome.
In this modern era, ‘mavericks’ are hard to come by but thankfully Raikkonen stuck to his guns.
As the popularity of Formula 1 continues to grow in this social media age, Raikkonen has spent his last three seasons racing toward the back end of the field, picking up the odd points. His interviews are what he has become known for during his stint with Alfa Romeo, rather then the racing side of things.
That could be a slight concern, with his genuine answers being rather funny, many forget the natural talent that the man possess, even now. His unreal speed has dissipated throughout the years, which is the usual for an aging driver, but now his experience is what gains him his points. His car placement along with his knack for spotting which moments in a race could be key are what his strengths are now. Hence why he has more then the majority of points for Alfa Romeo since he joined.
Raikkonen made his name early on in Formula 1, with his immense amount of speed and his absurd lack of fear. People forget that in the early 2000s, the era utterly dominated by Ferrari and Michael Schumacher, Raikkonen arguably would have dethroned the German on two occasions if it was not for reliability problems. When it came to pure speed, Raikkonen led that table for a number of years in this era.
The McLaren version Raikkonen is remembered by many, arguably that was peak Kimi. Especially 2005, a season which saw him reach new levels of ability in a car that was capable to suit his abilities. His speed and precision is what gave him his success. The dominant victory at Monaco that season, to his staggering win at Suzuka after coming through from the back to secure arguably his finest victory on the final lap.
But, it was 2007 which saw Raikkonen finally secure his long deserved title. Although not fully comfortable in the Ferrari F2007 for the majority of the season, he clinched the title at the final round of the season by a solitary point.
But, even after his world title success and being the second highest paid sportsman in the world for a moment in time, Raikkonen’s attitude stayed the same despite the beginning of his falling out with Formula 1. After a rough 2009 season, Raikkonen departed the sport for the first time, spending 2010 and 2011 in all sorts of machinery from rolling rally cars to stock racing. But, the urge to race a Formula 1 car was always there.
He wanted to sit in a car and race it, no matter the type. His return to Formula 1 saw a different Raikkonen however. He proved rather quickly that he clearly hadn’t lost any of his speed during his break with his two years at Lotus, securing third in the standings on his return in 2012. Of course, his return to the Ferrari team was not the most successful stint, securing just the single win in the 2018 United States Grand Prix, his 21st and final race victory – unless he pulls out a wonder and wins this weekend in Abu Dhabi in the Alfa Romeo which is ranked ninth in the constructors; that would be something.
Even his debut is rememberable. He joined the pinnacle of the sport as a fresh faced 21 year old after just 23 car races under his belt, which is unheard of and insanity. But he did not care nor was he bothered about the media out cry about his inexperience. He shut them up rather swiftly.
The modern day Maverick. With his departure, it is hard to see another character like him again – in fact there will not be. There’s only one Kimi Raikkonen. He never cared for many things in racing – especially the media side of things – but he got on with it. He spoke his mind when he wanted to. A man of few words who sometimes could go on a roll and give exquisitely detailed answers. But most importantly, a man who showed no fear in a Formula 1 car, a winner who grabbed the attention of many due to his laid back character and his sheer ability in a car.
Nobody would have thought that Kimi Raikkonen would hold the races for most Formula 1 starts in history – a stat that he does not care for.
The Motorsport Formula 