The news of Räikkönen’s retirement from Formula One racing comes as no surprise. But it does come with regret and widespread disappointment. Kimi, you see, is a fan favorite.
Kimi has been a firm favorite amongst F1 fans since his debut in 2001. Twenty years later–at 41 years of age–he has 341 races behind him.
There are many reasons why Kimi is so popular amongst Formula One fans, including his natural talent and excellent race-craft abilities. But personality quirks also play into the mix. Trying to get an interview out of Kimi is a reporter’s nightmare, such that getting a one-word answer during a press conference is considered a success. Yet his terse, often monosyllabic manner endears him to the F1 public.
Fans know that Räikkönen is not in Formula One for fame, money, or even success. He is in F1 because he loves the sport and happens to be immensely talented at it. This pure love of the sport is what endears Räikkönen to fans all around the world.
Former McLaren team principal Ron Dennis famously gave him the nickname of “The Iceman,” which refers (among other things) to his unwaveringly cool and calm temperament. Early evidence came when Räikkönen was found asleep 30 minutes before his F1 debut.
Räikkönen is also well-known for making head-shaking radio comments to his team during events. After his racing engineer gave him instructions during the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Räikkönen replied, “Just leave me alone! I know what I’m doing.” He persisted later in the race, saying, “I’m doing that already! You don’t have to remind me every 10 seconds.”
Personality eccentricities aside, the fact of the matter is that Räikkönen is a superb racing driver. Career stats say that–21 wins, 103 podiums, and 18 pole positions.
The highlight, of course, was winning the 2007 World Championship for Ferrari. But perhaps just as memorable was how he won the 2005 Japanese Grand Prix. After qualifying in 17th place, Kimi carved his way through the field, overtaking Giancarlo Fisichella on the last lap to claim the win.
The phrase “one of a kind” is often overused, but that is not the case when it comes to Kimi Räikkönen. I think it’s safe to say that we may never see another driver like Kimi.
https://youtu.be/fIeW0c3eJA4
