Kimi Raikkonen is one of the most unique characters in Formula 1 history. Over the course of his career, he became famous for his monosyllabic interview answers and blunt radio messages.
Raikkonen started his career with Sauber in 2001, and while he only scored nine points, he sealed an immediate move to McLaren. He was the successor to compatriot Mika Hakkinen, who had won back-to-back titles at the end of the 1990s.
The Finn secured his first podium on debut at the Australian GP, and followed that up with a maiden win in Malaysia a year later. He would go on to finish as the runner-up, just two points behind Michael Schumacher.
In 2005, he somehow failed to win the title despite taking seven victories and 12 podiums from 19 races. Raikkonen was blighted by unreliability, opening the door for Fernando Alonso.
At the end of 2006, he chose to leave for Ferrari, a decision that proved a masterstroke. Raikkonen staged an all-time great comeback to beat Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, now racing for his old team, to the championship.
That was the only title he managed before his retirement in 2021. He had two spells in the sport, walking away at the end of 2009 before a comeback with Lotus in 2012.
Kimi Raikkonen had no interest in the ‘political’ side of Formula 1
Raikkonen’s impressive form at Lotus earned a reunion with Ferrari in 2014. While there, he worked with strategist Ruth Buscombe.
The two would reunite at Sauber in 2019 after an effective seat swap with Charles Leclerc. Speaking on the Fast and Curious podcast last month, Buscombe offered an insight into Raikkonen’s attitude.
He apparently had little interest in speaking during the driver briefings that take place every Friday during Grand Prix weekends. Others sensed an opportunity to push their ‘political agenda’, but that side of the sport never interested Raikkonen.
In that respect, Buscombe says he’s the opposite of Mercedes star George Russell. Russell is naturally vocal as the head of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association.
“There is always a political agenda from drivers in terms of trying to get things changed to the way they want them,” she said. “There’s certain drivers that are always more vocal in these meetings, of which George is always one of them.
“Kimi Raikkonen, it won’t surprise you, never spoke, never said a thing in these meetings.”
When Lewis Hamilton implied that Kimi Raikkonen deliberately spun him out
David Coulthard has questioned Raikkone’s attitude, having spent three years as his teammate. He felt he could have won multiple titles with the same work ethic as Schumacher, rather than just one.
Coulthard says Raikkonen was blessed with immense talent, but didn’t have the drive to go with it. ‘The Iceman’ himself may counter that he achieved his ultimate goal in the sport regardless.
Ferrari mounted a title challenge in 2017 and 2018 when Raikkonen was Sebastian Vettel’s teammate. But by that point, he didn’t have the speed to compete.
His biggest impact on the 2018 championship fight was accidental. Raikkonen spun Hamilton out at the start of the British GP, prompting the Mercedes driver to hint that Ferrari had committed a tactical foul.
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