Kimi Räikkönen

Kimi-Matias Räikkönen (born 17 October 1979) is a Finnish racing driver who competed in Formula One from 2001 to 2021, becoming one of the sport's most distinctive and successful characters. Nicknamed "The Iceman" for his cool demeanor, minimal communication style, and unflappable approach to racing, Räikkönen won the 2007 Formula One World Drivers' Championship with Ferrari and claimed 21 Grand Prix victories across an extraordinary 19-season career. Born and raised in Espoo, Finland, Räikkönen began competitive karting at age 10, winning several national titles before graduating to junior formulae in 1999. His meteoric rise continued when he dominated the 2000 British Formula Renault Championship with Manor Motorsport, winning seven of ten races.

This success prompted Sauber to take a calculated gamble by signing him for Formula One in 2001, despite his having competed in only 23 single-seater races—a decision that caused initial controversy due to his limited experience. Räikkönen silenced his critics immediately, scoring a championship point on his debut in Australia and consistently outperforming his more experienced teammate Nick Heidfeld. His performances caught the attention of McLaren, who signed him for 2002 as David Coulthard's replacement. Over five seasons with McLaren (2002-2006), Räikkönen established himself as one of the fastest drivers on the grid, winning nine races and finishing runner-up in the 2003 and 2005 championships.

However, reliability issues, particularly with the Mercedes engines in 2005, cost him what many believed should have been his first title. For 2007, Räikkönen moved to Ferrari to replace the retired Michael Schumacher, and delivered sensationally in his first season with the Scuderia. In one of the most dramatic championship conclusions in F1 history, Räikkönen won the Brazilian Grand Prix—his sixth victory of the season—to snatch the title from McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso by just a single point, becoming Finland's third World Champion after Keke and Nico Rosberg. Following his championship, Räikkönen remained with Ferrari until 2009, winning six more races before being replaced by Fernando Alonso in a political move that saw him paid his full contract despite leaving the team.

After a two-year sabbatical competing in rallying and NASCAR, Räikkönen returned to F1 with Lotus in 2012, immediately demonstrating his enduring speed by winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. His remarkable 2013 season saw him finish third in the championship despite missing the final two races due to back surgery, prompting Ferrari to re-sign him for 2014. Räikkönen's second Ferrari stint lasted five seasons (2014-2018), during which he served as Sebastian Vettel's teammate and won his final Grand Prix at the 2018 United States Grand Prix—ending a 113-race winless streak dating back to 2013. For his final three seasons (2019-2021), Räikkönen raced for Alfa Romeo, mentoring young teammates Antonio Giovinazzi and Robert Kubica while continuing to score points well into his forties.

When he retired after the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at age 42, Räikkönen held the record for most Formula One race starts with 349, a mark since surpassed by Fernando Alonso. He departed with the third-most fastest laps (46) and seventh-most podium finishes (103)—all records for a Finnish driver. Beyond his statistics, Räikkönen became a cult hero for his blunt honesty, famous radio messages ("Leave me alone, I know what I'm doing"), minimal media engagement, and prioritization of family life over the F1 circus. His 2007 autobiography "The Unknown Kimi Räikkönen" and his post-retirement activities in ice racing and cross-country skiing showcase a man who raced on his own terms and left an indelible mark on Formula One as one of its most authentic characters.