Kimi Räikkönen
Kimi Räikkönen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kimi-Matias Räikkönen October 17, 1979 Espoo, Finland |
| Occupation | Professional racing driver |
| Years active | 2001–2021 (Formula One) |
| Known for | Formula One World Champion (2007) |
Kimi-Matias Räikkönen (born 17 October 1979), often referred to as "the Iceman", is a Finnish professional racing driver who participated in Formula One from 2001 until 2021. Throughout his career, he raced for teams such as Sauber, McLaren, Ferrari, Lotus, and Alfa Romeo. Räikkönen secured the 2007 Formula One World Championship title with Ferrari and achieved two second-place and three third-place finishes in the championship standings. Holding numerous Finnish records, he has the most wins, podiums, fastest laps, points, and top-three finishes among Finnish drivers. On a global scale, he ranks seventh in all-time podiums with 103, third in fastest laps with 46, and third in total race starts at 349. Known for his calm and reserved demeanor, Räikkönen frequently steered clear of media engagements.
Räikkönen made his Formula One debut in 2001 with Sauber after competing in only 23 car races. He joined McLaren the following year and rapidly established himself as a championship contender, finishing second behind Michael Schumacher in 2003 and behind Fernando Alonso in 2005. Despite his strong driving, mechanical unreliability at McLaren prompted a move to Ferrari in 2007, where he clinched the world title by a single point over McLaren rivals Lewis Hamilton and Alonso. In the 2008 season, he matched the record for most fastest laps set within a single year on two occasions.
After departing Ferrari and stepping away from Formula One at the end of 2009—having won only once that season at the Belgian Grand Prix driving the underperforming Ferrari F60—Räikkönen returned to F1 with Lotus for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. There, he secured the team's only victories during that period. Ferrari brought him back in 2014 on an initial two-year deal later extended through 2018. During this stint, Räikkönen achieved 26 podium finishes, two pole positions, and a win at the 2018 United States Grand Prix—his first victory after a drought of 113 races—culminating in a third-place finish in the championship standings that year. Following his exit from Ferrari after 2018, he signed with Alfa Romeo on a contract extended until 2021 before retiring from Formula One.
Beyond his F1 career, Räikkönen competed in the World Rally Championship with Citroën's Junior Team in 2010 and ICE 1 Racing in 2011. His best results included one stage victory and fifth place overall during those seasons. Additionally, he made single appearances in NASCAR’s Truck Series and Nationwide Series in 2011 and later participated in the NASCAR Cup Series during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Early career
Born on 17 October 1979 in Espoo, Finland, Kimi-Matias Räikkönen began karting at age ten and was competing internationally by fifteen. A notable moment early on was during a race in Monaco where, despite suffering a broken steering wheel and several collisions, he managed to finish third. In 1998, he captured the Nordic Championship title held in Norway. By 1999, Räikkönen had secured second place in a European Formula Super A event with the Dutch PDB Racing Team while also competing in the Formula Ford Euro Cup. At twenty years old, he won the British Formula Renault winter series (1999) and dominated the following year’s Formula Renault UK Championship by winning seven out of ten races. Across these two series combined, he achieved thirteen wins from twenty-three events—a winning percentage of approximately 57%.
Sauber (2001)
Following impressive performances, Peter Sauber invited Räikkönen to test at Mugello in September 2000, where Räikkönen outpaced regular driver Pedro Diniz by half a second on day two. The test was kept confidential within Sauber’s team, internally referring to him as "Eskimo." After additional evaluations at Jerez and Barcelona circuits, Sauber signed him for the upcoming season. Despite concerns expressed by FIA president Max Mosley regarding Räikkönen’s limited experience—only twenty-three prior car races—he was granted an FIA Super Licence based on Sauber’s assurances. Remarkably, Räikkönen earned his first championship point during his debut race at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix, reportedly arriving just thirty minutes before the start.
During his rookie year, Räikkönen scored points on four occasions and finished within the top eight eight times overall. He accumulated nine points by season’s end, contributing alongside teammate Nick Heidfeld to Sauber achieving their best Constructors' Championship position at that time—fourth place.
McLaren (2002–2006)
Räikkönen, whose connection to Sauber's engine partner Ferrari was notable, caught McLaren's attention and earned a race seat in , taking over from two-time world champion and mentor Mika Häkkinen. Häkkinen played a pivotal role in Ron Dennis's decision, famously stating, "If you want to win, hire the Finn."
2002
Räikkönen made an impressive debut by finishing third at the 2002 Australian Grand Prix. Despite several engine failures from McLaren, he accumulated 24 points and secured four podium finishes, closely matching teammate David Coulthard. He came close to victory at the 2002 French Grand Prix, ultimately placing second after sliding off track due to oil on the surface. Räikkönen concluded the year sixth overall, contributing to McLaren’s third-place finish in the Constructors' Championship.
2003
During the 2003 season opener in Australia, Räikkönen started 15th on the grid but led the race until a pitlane speeding penalty—caused by a software malfunction—demoted him to third behind Michael Schumacher. He claimed his maiden victory in Malaysia after starting from seventh position. Initially declared the winner of Brazil following a race stoppage, that win was later reassigned to Giancarlo Fisichella due to lap count irregularities.
McLaren’s continued use of their 2002 chassis resulted in diminished competitiveness as competitors advanced. Nevertheless, Räikkönen achieved notable results: he finished second at Imola, narrowly missed winning at Monaco, and held off Rubens Barrichello for second place in Austria despite engine troubles. He endured setbacks including a collision in Spain and starting from the pitlane in Canada but remained a strong contender.
He secured pole position and led at the European Grand Prix before suffering an engine failure. Throughout 2003, Räikkönen consistently finished near the front, earning podiums in France and Britain and placing second in Hungary. A mid-season tire controversy compelled Michelin to switch to narrower tires, which affected performance and cost crucial championship points.
Räikkönen took pole at the United States GP and finished runner-up to Schumacher. In Japan, despite qualifying eighth, he finished second as Schumacher secured his sixth World Championship title. Räikkönen ended the season just two points behind Schumacher and helped McLaren narrowly miss out on second place in the Constructors' standings, finishing third behind Williams by two points and Ferrari by twelve.
2004
The season began unfavorably for Räikkönen, who managed only one point across the first seven races due to frequent reliability issues with his McLaren, particularly involving the Mercedes engine. After seven events, he had just one point compared to Michael Schumacher’s 60. At the Canadian Grand Prix, despite making five pit stops, Räikkönen was classified fifth following disqualifications of several rivals. He then finished sixth at the .
At the , McLaren debuted the MP4-19B; Räikkönen placed seventh behind teammate David Coulthard. At Silverstone, he earned pole position and finished second behind Schumacher. The McLarens qualified on the second row at Germany. Räikkönen lost his rear wing on lap 13 while trailing Schumacher and retired again at the after starting from tenth. At the , he qualified tenth but led from lap 11 onwards to secure McLaren’s sole victory of that year, also recording the fastest lap. Electrical problems forced him out of Monza, but he secured third place in China, closely following winner Rubens Barrichello.
In the , Räikkönen was struck by Felipe Massa on lap one, which caused handling difficulties and resulted in a sixth-place finish. At the season finale in , he contested for victory with Montoya but ultimately finished second by one second. Räikkönen wrapped up seventh in the championship with 45 points and four podiums.
Despite a challenging season, Räikkönen’s potential remained evident; industry figures such as Ross Brawn and Jean Todt viewed him as a promising candidate for Ferrari’s future lineup. In November 2004, he revealed plans to establish a Formula Three team named Räikkönen Robertson Racing (Double R) alongside manager Steve Robertson for 2005.
2005
Räikkönen's 2005 campaign started with difficulties as McLaren's vehicle had trouble warming up Michelin tyres, which restricted his qualifying results to sixth place or lower in the initial rounds. In Australia, he stalled on the starting grid, earning only a single point, and a tyre valve malfunction in Malaysia cost him a chance at the podium. His first podium finish came in Bahrain, where he placed third behind Alonso and Jarno Trulli.
Following this, Räikkönen secured pole position three times consecutively at San Marino, Spain, and Monaco, eventually winning the Monaco Grand Prix thanks to a strategic safety car deployment orchestrated by Neil Martin. A driveshaft failure at Imola prevented a victory, yet triumphs in Barcelona and Monte Carlo brought him within 22 points of championship leader Alonso. During the , a suspension failure caused by a flat-spotted tyre while leading on the final lap handed Alonso extra points and triggered a rule adjustment permitting tyre changes without penalty.
Räikkönen capitalized on an error by Alonso to claim victory in Canada; nonetheless, all Michelin-equipped teams withdrew from the United States Grand Prix over safety issues. At the French Grand Prix, an engine change resulted in a ten-place grid penalty despite what Ron Dennis described as Räikkönen’s finest qualifying lap; he finished second behind Alonso. In Britain, another engine failure pushed him from second on the grid back to 12th for the start; he ultimately finished third.
While comfortably leading in Germany, a hydraulics malfunction forced his retirement, again benefiting Alonso—marking Räikkönen’s third race retirement while leading that season. Ahead of Hungary, he suggested he might depart McLaren if reliability problems continued beyond his 2006 contract. He won Hungary starting from an unprecedented first qualifying attempt position on a dirty track and became the inaugural victor of the Turkish Grand Prix.
At Italy, another engine penalty dropped him from pole position to start 11th; he ended the race in fourth place. He successfully defended his Belgian Grand Prix title for the second year running. In Brazil, Alonso secured the Drivers' Championship as Räikkönen finished second behind Montoya. In Japan’s penultimate race, starting from 17th on the grid, Räikkönen achieved his seventh win by overtaking Fisichella on the final lap—a maneuver widely regarded as one of the most remarkable of that season.
For his 2005 performances, Räikkönen was honored with F1 Racing magazine’s "Driver of the Year" award as well as Autosport’s "International Racing Driver of the Year."
2006
At the Bahrain event, Räikkönen advanced from 22nd on the grid to finish third behind Alonso and Michael Schumacher. In Malaysia, his race ended early due to a first-lap collision involving Red Bull Racing’s Christian Klien.
McLaren showed improvement after a slow start at Australia, where Räikkönen finished second and set the fastest lap despite tyre difficulties. At the , subpar qualifying combined with strategic errors resulted in a fifth-place finish; McLaren team principal Ron Dennis partially attributed their failure to secure top-two finishes to Räikkönen’s performance.
During the , Räikkönen began ninth but climbed to fifth by race end. Shortly thereafter, he acknowledged his limited prospects for winning the 2006 Championship. In Monaco, after qualifying third and running second during the race, he retired due to a car fire caused by a heat shield failure.
At Silverstone’s , Räikkönen qualified second and completed the race in third place behind Alonso and Schumacher. He earned another podium finish in Canada. However, his chances ended prematurely following a collision with a teammate during the . At the , he finished fifth alongside new teammate Pedro de la Rosa, who had been promoted from test driver status.
Räikkönen took pole position at Germany and fought Jenson Button en route to finishing third. Another pole at Hungary was followed by a collision that caused his fourth retirement of that season. A first-lap incident at resulted in suspension damage and subsequent crash.
He secured pole at narrowly by a slim margin but finished second behind Schumacher, who announced his retirement during that season. Ferrari confirmed Räikkönen as Schumacher’s successor for 2007.
Throttle issues forced him out of the race. His final two races in Japan and Brazil concluded without podium finishes. Räikkönen ended his tenure with McLaren fifth in the World Drivers' Championship while McLaren placed third in the Constructors' Championship during a season without victories.
In parallel, Räikkönen’s British Formula 3 team, Räikkönen Robertson Racing, enjoyed success with driver Mike Conway capturing both the 2006 British F3 International Series title and victory at the Macau Grand Prix.
Ferrari (2007–2009)
Following the 2006 Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari confirmed that Räikkönen had agreed to a three-year deal covering the 2007 to 2009 seasons. He partnered with Felipe Massa, who had been part of the Ferrari lineup since 2006.
2007: World Champion
Räikkönen kicked off the 2007 campaign by triumphing at the 2007 Australian Grand Prix, becoming the first Ferrari driver to win on debut since Nigel Mansell in . Early in the season, he encountered difficulties, securing third-place finishes in Malaysia and Bahrain, retiring in Spain due to electrical faults, and struggling with qualifying in Monaco following a crash. Midway through the year, he achieved multiple podiums and victories, including wins in France and Britain, contributing to Ferrari’s initial 1–2 result of the season. Despite setbacks such as a hydraulic malfunction in Europe and a neck injury sustained at Monza, Räikkönen continued to deliver strong performances, earning pole positions and victories at Spa and China.
At the season finale in Brazil, Räikkönen clinched the 2007 Formula One Drivers’ Championship by winning the race and edging out rivals Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso by a single point. His six wins outnumbered both McLaren drivers’ totals, securing Ferrari’s first Drivers’ title since Michael Schumacher.
After the season concluded, Räikkönen’s championship was briefly under scrutiny due to fuel irregularities concerning other teams but was ultimately upheld following FIA investigations and appeals. As of the conclusion of the 2024 Formula One season, this stands as Ferrari’s latest Drivers’ Championship triumph.
In January 2008, Räikkönen was awarded second place in Finland’s Sports Personality of the Year honors, finishing behind Tero Pitkämäki.
2008
The Australian GP saw a difficult start for Räikkönen, who finished eighth after qualifying 15th amid mechanical troubles. However, he claimed his first victory of the year at the , finishing ahead of Robert Kubica and Heikki Kovalainen. This win coincided with the fifth anniversary of his inaugural career victory at that very circuit. In Bahrain, he qualified fourth and finished runner-up to teammate Felipe Massa, thereby taking over the championship lead.
In Spain, Räikkönen secured his 15th career pole position—and his first for that season—converting it into a second victory along with setting the fastest lap. He surpassed Mika Häkkinen in both fastest laps and total podium finishes, establishing himself as Finland’s leading driver by these measures.
During the Turkish Grand Prix, despite sustaining front wing damage early on from contact with Kovalainen, Räikkönen set the fastest lap and completed the race in third place. At Monaco, he qualified second but dropped to ninth after receiving a drive-through penalty and an incident involving Adrian Sutil, although he still managed to record the fastest lap. A protest from Force India was lodged but no further penalties were applied.
Starting third in Canada, Räikkönen set an early fastest lap but collided with Hamilton under a red light in the pit lane, causing both drivers to retire. At the French Grand Prix—where he earned his 16th pole position marking Ferrari’s 200th—he finished second after an exhaust failure reduced engine power.
At Silverstone, Räikkönen qualified third but fell to fourth due to strategic tire choices amid wet weather. In Germany, starting from sixth on the grid, he ended sixth despite complications during a safety car period. The Hungarian GP saw him advance from sixth to third as rivals encountered problems.
During qualifying for the European GP, Räikkönen placed fourth but retired shortly after due to engine failure following a problematic pit stop that resulted in an injured mechanic. At Belgium, he led early stages and set fastest lap but crashed on the penultimate lap while battling Hamilton in variable rain conditions.
In Italy’s rain-affected race, he began 14th and climbed up to ninth while setting fastest lap once again. At Singapore—the inaugural F1 night race—Räikkönen qualified third but retired after hitting a wall while pushing aggressively; nevertheless, he equaled Michael Schumacher’s record with ten fastest laps during a single season.
At Japan’s Fuji Speedway, starting second and initially leading, Räikkönen dropped to seventh following an incident with Hamilton before recovering to finish third behind Alonso and Kubica, effectively ending his title defense hopes. In China, he yielded track position to teammate Massa to support Ferrari’s championship bid.
Räikkönen wrapped up the season with a third-place finish in Brazil and secured third overall in the Drivers’ Championship as Kubica failed to score points. He also earned the DHL Fastest Lap Award for a second consecutive year by recording ten fastest laps throughout 2008.
2009
At the outset of the season in , Räikkönen secured ninth position in qualifying. Ferrari's overall speed trailed behind competitors such as Brawn and Red Bull, who had posed significant challenges in 2008. On lap 43, after an unplanned pit stop, Räikkönen retired due to a differential malfunction.
During the Malaysian Grand Prix, Räikkönen topped the timesheets in the second practice session and initially qualified ninth, later elevated to seventh following penalties applied to other drivers. A tactical decision to switch to wet tyres ahead of incoming rain resulted in a disappointing race outcome, with him retiring early and finishing 14th.
In China, he qualified eighth but dropped to 10th by the end of the race, citing issues with engine power and tyre grip. Bahrain marked Ferrari’s first points of the year as he finished sixth, although the team’s performance remained underwhelming. His race in Spain ended prematurely due to hydraulic system failure.
At Monaco, Räikkönen achieved the team’s best qualifying position to date by placing second and secured third place in the race after losing second place at the start. In Turkey, damage sustained to his front wing on the opening lap restricted him to a ninth-place finish.
In Britain, a strong launch saw him climb from ninth to fifth; however, traffic during pit stops caused him to fall back to eighth. A collision with Adrian Sutil at the German Grand Prix resulted in radiator damage and forced retirement.
Räikkönen delivered Ferrari’s top result of the season at Hungary by finishing second after starting seventh. This was aided by rivals encountering difficulties and flawless pit stops, despite minor exhaust troubles.
At the European Grand Prix, he qualified sixth and finished third, achieving his second podium in succession. Starting sixth in Belgium, Räikkönen took an early lead and claimed victory—his first win after 25 races and Ferrari’s sole triumph of 2009—further cementing his nickname as "The King of Spa."
He maintained momentum in Italy with a third-place finish following Lewis Hamilton’s crash on the final lap, marking his fourth consecutive podium appearance.
The streak ended in Singapore where Räikkönen finished tenth after qualifying twelfth. In Japan, he narrowly missed out on a podium spot, finishing fourth after overtaking Nick Heidfeld but failing to pass Hamilton following a safety car period.
In Brazil, despite qualifying fifth and suffering early front wing damage along with a brief pit lane fire caused by fuel spillage, Räikkönen managed sixth place. He gained positions through strategic decisions even while experiencing discomfort from fuel exposure.
The season concluded at Abu Dhabi with an 11th-place qualifying effort and a 12th-place finish outside the points-scoring positions.
Leaving Formula One (2010–2011)
Towards the end of the 2009 campaign, Ferrari announced Räikkönen's departure despite him having a contract extending into . Fernando Alonso was named as his replacement. Although expectations were that Räikkönen would rejoin McLaren alongside Lewis Hamilton, negotiations did not come to fruition. He was also linked with Mercedes GP; however, they opted for Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg instead. Prior to Toyota F1’s exit from Formula One, they offered Räikkönen a seat for 2010 to replace Timo Glock, but he declined due to his preference for competing in a race-winning car and dissatisfaction with the proposed salary.
On 17 November 2009, Räikkönen's manager Steve Robertson confirmed that he would not participate in Formula One during 2010. Nevertheless, speculation arose during 2010 about a potential return in 2011 with Renault following their improved competitiveness and uncertainty surrounding Vitaly Petrov’s contract status. Renault team principal Éric Boullier acknowledged Räikkönen’s interest but stressed that signing a former world champion required full commitment. Räikkönen dismissed these rumors, accusing Renault of exploiting his name for promotional purposes.
Lotus (2012–2013)
Prior to the 2011 Singapore Grand Prix, rumors surfaced linking Räikkönen to a 2012 comeback with Williams, following sightings at their Grove facility. However, on 29 November 2011, he committed to a two-year deal with Lotus for the upcoming 2012 season.
2012
Räikkönen began the season starting from 17th position but climbed to finish seventh in the opening race. At the , he qualified fifth but dropped to 10th on the grid due to a gearbox penalty, yet managed to secure fifth place despite limited familiarity with Pirelli’s wet tyres. A strategic tyre miscalculation at the GP caused a fall from second place down to 14th. He achieved his first podium of the return by finishing second in Bahrain after starting 11th, followed by a third-place finish in Spain.
In Monaco, he qualified eighth and ended the race ninth. After a disappointing qualifying session in Canada where he started 12th, he finished eighth, adding valuable points to his championship tally. At the European GP in Valencia, Räikkönen secured second place behind Fernando Alonso. He took fifth place at the British GP after qualifying sixth.
In Germany, despite challenging wet conditions during qualifying, Räikkönen started tenth and finished fourth, which was later upgraded to third due to Sebastian Vettel’s penalty. He qualified fifth in Hungary and finished second behind Lewis Hamilton after executing strategic overtakes despite experiencing KERS difficulties.
Following the summer break, Lotus postponed deploying their 'Drag Reduction Device' because of weather conditions; nevertheless, Räikkönen qualified fourth and took third place in Belgium. He qualified seventh and finished fifth at Monza. Although qualifying outside the top ten in Singapore and Japan, he managed sixth-place finishes in both events.
The Korean GP marked a turning point with significant Lotus upgrades including a coanda exhaust system. Räikkönen qualified and finished fifth after a fierce battle with Hamilton. Despite trailing championship leader Vettel by 48 points after 16 rounds, he drew motivation from his title-winning campaign in 2007.
He qualified seventh in India but was unable to advance due to limitations in straight-line speed; based on performance clauses, his contract was extended for the 2013 season.
On 4 November 2012, Räikkönen secured his first victory with Lotus at Abu Dhabi by capitalizing on a strong getaway and Hamilton’s mechanical failure. This triumph represented Lotus's first win since Ayrton Senna’s 1987 Detroit GP success. Although Vettel’s third-place finish eliminated Räikkönen from title contention mathematically, he remained third overall, holding a 16-point lead over Hamilton.
At the season finale in Brazil, starting ninth, mistakes initially dropped him behind slower competitors but he recovered to finish tenth following Hamilton's retirement, securing third place in the championship—71 points behind Alonso and 74 behind champion Vettel.
On 3 December 2012, readers of French motorsport website toileF1.com voted Räikkönen as driver of the year.
2013
On 29 October 2012, Lotus confirmed Räikkönen would remain with the team for the 2013 season amid speculation about other racing opportunities.
He won the opening race of the year, the , starting from seventh and utilizing a two-stop strategy while most rivals made three stops; he also recorded the fastest lap. In Malaysia, Räikkönen qualified seventh but received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Nico Rosberg during qualifying and finished seventh after sustaining damage at race start.
At the , he achieved both qualifying and race second places despite early setbacks. In Bahrain, starting ninth but promoted to eighth due to Lewis Hamilton’s penalty on the grid, he finished second ahead of teammate Romain Grosjean. At the , Räikkönen started fourth and finished second employing a three-stop strategy. In Monaco, after suffering a puncture caused by an aggressive overtaking maneuver, he recovered to tenth place, extending his streak of consecutive points finishes to 23 races.
Räikkönen struggled in Canada with a ninth-place finish. At the , he surpassed Schumacher's record by scoring points in 25 consecutive races, finishing fifth and maintaining third position in the championship standings. He qualified fourth and finished runner-up in Germany narrowly behind Vettel. Despite qualifying sixth in Hungary, he again secured second place, moving up to second in the Drivers' Championship by one point over Fernando Alonso.
In Belgium, after qualifying eighth, brake problems forced his retirement, ending his record run of 27 consecutive points finishes and missing an opportunity to break Nick Heidfeld's record of 41 consecutive race finishes (Räikkönen had completed 38).
He failed to score points at the Italian GP due to an early front wing failure. Shortly thereafter it was announced that Räikkönen would depart Lotus for Ferrari in 2014 alongside Fernando Alonso. Prior to Singapore GP weekend it emerged that Räikkönen had not received his full salary throughout the season; this unpaid compensation was cited as a key factor influencing his decision to leave.
Despite back issues threatening his participation at Singapore, he qualified 13th but managed an impressive third-place finish aided by a safety car intervention. In Japan, qualifying ninth led to a fifth-place race result.
In India, Räikkönen qualified sixth and ran as high as second late into the race on a one-stop strategy but lost pace towards the end and finished seventh amid controversy over team orders involving teammate Grosjean—raising questions about his relationship with Lotus management.
At Abu Dhabi tensions escalated; Räikkönen skipped Thursday media duties and contemplated withdrawing from the race due to ongoing salary disputes. After qualifying fifth but receiving a demotion to last on the grid for car irregularities, he retired on lap one following contact with another driver—the first retirement since 2006. Subsequently Lotus and Räikkönen reached a provisional agreement resolving outstanding salary issues as Quantum Motorsports’ investment stabilized Lotus financially.
However, Räikkönen opted for back surgery prior to the United States GP and missed the final two races of 2013. Fellow Finn Heikki Kovalainen substituted for him during these events.
Return to Ferrari (2014–2018)
On 11 September 2013, Räikkönen agreed to a two-year contract to rejoin Ferrari, the team with which he had previously won the championship starting in . He attributed his departure from Lotus primarily to financial considerations.
2014
During the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix, Räikkönen appeared set to claim a podium finish but was hindered by a puncture caused by Max Chilton while being lapped, necessitating an additional pit stop. Although he recorded the fastest lap on lap 75, he ultimately placed 12th.
After a challenging first half of the season, Räikkönen showed improvement at the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix, securing fourth place—his best finish that year and the first occasion he outperformed teammate Alonso. He concluded 2014 ranked 12th in the Drivers' Championship, marking his lowest career standing and ending the season without any podiums for the first time since his debut year. Throughout the year, he faced difficulties with the car’s deficient front grip and adapting to the new brake-by-wire system, describing the balancing act required for optimal handling.
Räikkönen remained with Ferrari in 2015, forming a partnership with former world champion Sebastian Vettel following Alonso's exit.
2015
At the season opener in Australia, Räikkönen retired due to a loose wheel after a pit stop. He bounced back with two fourth-place finishes in Malaysia and China. During practice for the , he received a warning for unsafe pitlane exit but avoided a grid penalty. His manager, Steve Robertson, hinted at a potential contract renewal with Ferrari, contradicting Räikkönen’s earlier suggestions of retiring after 2015.
Following a tactical tyre choice in Bahrain, Räikkönen achieved second place—his first podium since 2013 and his first for Ferrari since 2009. He commended enhancements in engine power and downforce, signaling renewed competitiveness. Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene praised Räikkönen’s strong race pace, suggesting he might have contended for victory had there been more laps remaining.
At Barcelona, Räikkönen qualified seventh and finished fifth after a solid start. He described qualifying at the Monaco GP as disastrous, securing sixth behind Vettel. In that race, he ended sixth after being overtaken by Daniel Ricciardo. During qualifying at the Canadian GP, he secured third but lost positions following a spin triggered by an engine torque issue.
In the Austrian GP, Räikkönen was involved in a significant collision with Fernando Alonso; both drivers emerged uninjured. After an underwhelming performance in Great Britain, he ran second behind Vettel in Hungary but retired due to failure of the energy recovery system combined with unfortunate safety car timing.
On 19 August, Ferrari extended Räikkönen’s contract through 2016, marking six seasons with the team over ten years. Räikkönen expressed his desire to conclude his racing career at Ferrari.
At the Belgian GP, despite starting from 17th due to penalties and communication errors, he climbed to seventh after overtaking numerous competitors.
During Ferrari’s home race at Monza, Räikkönen qualified on the front row but lost places at the start because of an issue with clutch positioning. He managed to recover and finish fifth. Team principal Arrivabene suggested that an anti-stall system may have been activated due to driver error but acknowledged some uncertainty.
He remained one podium behind teammate Vettel, who finished second.
Räikkönen qualified third at the Singapore Grand Prix and maintained that position despite discomfort with the car, earning his second podium of the season.
He wrapped up 2015 with a third-place finish at Abu Dhabi, securing fourth overall in the Drivers' Championship.
2016
For the second year running, Räikkönen was forced to retire from the Australian season opener due to an airbox fire. He claimed second place at the 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix, while his teammate Sebastian Vettel was unable to start following a mechanical failure on the formation lap. At the 2016 Chinese Grand Prix, despite qualifying third, Räikkönen dropped to fifth after a first-lap collision with Vettel damaged his front wing. He bounced back to secure third place at the 2016 Russian Grand Prix after a significant collision at the start eliminated Vettel, marking Ferrari's 700th podium in Formula One. Räikkönen finished second behind Max Verstappen at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, outperforming Vettel.
Throughout the 2016 campaign, Räikkönen showed enhanced qualifying form, edging out Vettel 11–10 in sessions.
2017
Räikkönen kicked off the 2017 season with steady top-five results, including fourth-place finishes in Australia and Bahrain and fifth in China. His first podium of the year came with a third-place finish at the Russian Grand Prix, although he retired early in Spain following a first-lap accident.
At the , Räikkönen secured his first pole position after 129 races, becoming the oldest driver to claim pole since 1997. He completed the race in second place behind teammate Sebastian Vettel, delivering Ferrari their first one-two finish since 2010. The following rounds produced mixed outcomes: seventh in Canada due to brake complications, retirement in Azerbaijan caused by an oil leak after qualifying third, and fifth in Austria.
Starting from second on the grid at the British Grand Prix, Räikkönen suffered a late tyre failure but managed to finish third ahead of Vettel. In Hungary, despite demonstrating superior pace on older tyres, team strategy favored Vettel, resulting in Räikkönen taking second place. He then finished fourth in Belgium and fifth in Italy.
At Singapore, starting fourth, Räikkönen was involved in a crash with Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel that ended all three drivers’ races. He qualified second in Malaysia but did not start because of a technical issue. After finishing fifth in Japan, he secured three consecutive third-place finishes at the United States, Mexican, and Brazilian Grands Prix. A fourth-place result in Abu Dhabi ensured he ended the season fourth in the drivers’ standings.
Räikkönen’s 2017 performances played a vital role in maintaining Ferrari’s competitive edge in Formula One, demonstrating resilience amid technical setbacks and strategic team decisions.
2018
On 22 August 2017, Räikkönen extended his contract with Ferrari for the season. At the opening Australian GP, he qualified second and finished third after being overtaken by Vettel during a virtual safety car period. During the Bahrain GP, despite qualifying second, he retired on lap 35 due to a pit stop error. He recovered to claim third place at the Chinese GP despite a strategy that prioritized his teammate.
At the Azerbaijan GP, after overcoming a first-lap incident, Räikkönen finished second. An engine failure during practice at the Spanish GP necessitated an engine change that prevented him from using Ferrari’s upgraded engine introduced later; consequently, he raced with an older specification until the Belgian GP to avoid penalties. Despite another engine issue during Spain’s race weekend, no replacement was required. Subsequent finishes included fourth place in Monaco and sixth in Canada.
Beginning with a third-place finish at the French GP, Räikkönen embarked on a run of podiums: second at the Austrian GP, third at the British GP despite receiving a contentious penalty, and third again at both the German and Hungarian GPs, totaling five consecutive podiums. At the Belgian GP, a fuel miscalculation during qualifying relegated him to sixth on the grid; he retired after crashing on the first lap.
Räikkönen earned pole position at the Italian GP, setting a new record for Formula One’s fastest lap by surpassing Juan Pablo Montoya’s 14-year-old mark with an average speed of 263.588 km/h and a lap time of 1:19.119. Despite Mercedes instructing Bottas to impede him after pit stops, he finished second—his 100th career podium—becoming only the fifth driver ever to reach this milestone. This was followed by fifth place in Singapore, fourth in Russia, and fifth in Japan where contact with Verstappen caused car damage.
At age 39, Räikkönen won the United States GP, becoming F1’s oldest race winner since 1994 and ranking as the 13th oldest winner overall. This triumph established him as Finland’s most successful Formula One driver by race victories and set records for both longest interval between wins (113 races) and longest duration between first and last victories (5,691 days), coinciding with the eleventh anniversary of his 2007 world championship title. He then secured third places at both the Mexican and Brazilian GPs. Although retiring from the final race in Abu Dhabi due to electrical problems, Räikkönen concluded his final season with Ferrari third in the Drivers’ Championship.
2019
On 11 September 2018, Räikkönen departed from Ferrari to return to Sauber, the team where he made his Formula One debut in 2001, signing a two-year deal.<ref>Prior to the 2019 season, he participated in testing the Sauber C37 during the Abu Dhabi Pirelli tyre test. The team adopted the name Alfa Romeo Racing starting from .
Before the mid-season break, Räikkönen accumulated 31 points, placing eighth in the Drivers' Championship after 12 rounds and clearly outperforming teammate Antonio Giovinazzi, who had managed just one point. However, following the summer hiatus, the Alfa Romeo Racing C38 encountered performance difficulties that resulted in a seven-race stretch without scoring. Despite qualifying sixth at the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix, Räikkönen was caught up in a first-lap collision involving Max Verstappen.
His points drought was finally broken at the , where a strong drive combined with a penalty for Lewis Hamilton secured him fourth place—marking the team's best top-four finish since . Räikkönen ended the year 12th in the Drivers' Championship with a total of 43 points, representing Alfa Romeo’s highest driver placement since 2013.
2020
Räikkönen remained with Alfa Romeo Racing throughout the 2020 season. Powered by Ferrari engines, the car was among the slowest on the grid, positioning the team in battles near the back against rivals Haas and Williams. He scored points twice, finishing ninth at both the Tuscan and Emilia Romagna events, and secured the team's best qualifying position by placing eighth at the Turkish Grand Prix. During the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Räikkönen briefly held second place following a red flag period and penalties but ultimately finished 11th. He ranked 16th overall in the drivers' standings with four points, ahead of teammate Antonio Giovinazzi as well as all Haas and Williams drivers. Räikkönen outperformed this group’s competitors in nine out of 17 races, bested Giovinazzi in nine of 13 races they both completed, and led him in qualifying on eight occasions. Additionally, he was the highest-placed Ferrari-powered driver four times.
At the Eifel Grand Prix, Räikkönen marked his 323rd Formula One start, surpassing Rubens Barrichello’s record for most race entries. He received the FIA Action of the Year accolade for his remarkable first lap at the Portuguese Grand Prix, where he overtook ten cars.
2021
In , Räikkönen continued with Alfa Romeo alongside teammate Giovinazzi.[1] He declared his intention to retire at season’s end.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name During the 2021 Dutch Grand Prix, he tested positive for COVID-19, leading to reserve driver Robert Kubica stepping in for both the Dutch and Italian rounds.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Throughout the season, Räikkönen earned points at several races including Azerbaijan,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Hungary,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Russia,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name and Mexico.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In November, he made a farewell visit to Alfa Romeo’s Swiss manufacturing facility,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name followed by a send-off from Scuderia Ferrari prior to the Abu Dhabi race.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name For his final appearance at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, his car—the C41—featured a message reading "Dear Kimi, we will leave you alone now".Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name His race ended on lap 25 due to a wheel nut failure.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Räikkönen finished 16th in that year’s championship standings with ten points.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Rallying
Räikkönen made his rallying debut at the Arctic Lapland Rally in January 2009, piloting an Abarth Grande Punto S2000 prepared by Tommi Mäkinen Racing, and secured 13th place. Shortly after achieving second place in the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, he entered the 2009 Rally Finland for his first World Rally Championship (WRC) event but retired following a crash while positioned 15th overall.
On 4 December 2009, Räikkönen transitioned from Formula 1 to compete full-time in the World Rally Championship during the 2010 World Rally Championship season. He joined the Citroën Junior Team, driving a Red Bull-backed Citroën C4 WRC alongside co-driver Kaj Lindström. Their campaign included participation in 12 out of 13 rallies, opting out of Rally New Zealand.
He earned his initial WRC points with an eighth-place finish at the 2010 Jordan Rally, becoming only the second competitor after Carlos Reutemann to score points in both Formula One and WRC. His performance improved to fifth at the 2010 Rally of Turkey, surpassing many seasoned competitors.
During the 2010 Rally Finland, Räikkönen engaged in a close contest with retired four-time World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen but crashed on stage 12. He achieved seventh place at the 2010 Rallye Deutschland, which was his second event on asphalt, and secured his first career stage victory on the final stage.
On 18 September 2010, he claimed victory at the Rallye Vosgien in France, dominating all six asphalt stages. Due to a shakedown crash that damaged his roll cage, he withdrew from the 2010 Rally Catalunya, choosing to safeguard his vehicle rather than re-enter under super rally regulations. He concluded the season with an eighth-place finish at the final event, the 2010 Wales Rally GB, amassing 25 points and finishing 10th overall—the highest rookie standing that year.
In the 2011 World Rally Championship season, Räikkönen competed under his own banner, ICE 1 Racing, driving a Citroën DS3 WRC. He placed eighth at the opening round, 2011 Rally Sweden, skipped the Mexican round, then finished seventh at 2011 Rally Portugal and sixth at the 2011 Jordan Rally. After missing two events, he returned for the Acropolis Rally, finishing seventh, and earned points with ninth place at his home rally, 2011 Rally Finland. Matching his best result of sixth at 2011 Rallye Deutschland, he achieved seven consecutive points finishes before retiring from the final three rallies. Räikkönen accumulated a total of 34 points—nine more than in 2010—yet again secured 10th position in the championship standings.
NASCAR
On 29 March 2011, Räikkönen announced intentions to enter NASCAR competition, beginning with the Truck Series and aiming to participate later in both the Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series. On 2 April, he signed with Toyota's Kyle Busch Motorsports for a limited schedule in the Truck Series.
He made his NASCAR debut on 20 May at the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, finishing 15th despite starting from 31st on the grid. His performance received commendations from crew chief Rick Ren and teammate Kyle Busch. On 28 May, he competed in the Nationwide Series race at Charlotte for Joe Nemechek's NEMCO Motorsports, finishing 27th after encountering grille damage and a pit lane speeding penalty affected his race outcome. Later that month, Räikkönen tested with Robby Gordon Motorsports at Infineon Raceway intending to race in the Toyota/Save Mart 350, but a testing crash ended those plans.
In May 2022, it was announced by Trackhouse Racing that Räikkönen would make his Cup Series debut driving the No. 91 Chevrolet at the 2022 Go Bowling at The Glen event held at Watkins Glen International. With limited prior experience consisting only of an acclimatisation test and a single practice session, he qualified in 27th position out of a field of 39 competitors, ahead of fellow debutant Mike Rockenfeller and former Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat. During the race, Räikkönen ran inside the top ten for much of the event but was ultimately classified in 37th place following a collision caused while attempting to pass a spinning car.
Räikkönen returned to compete in the No. 91 car in March 2023 at the Circuit of the Americas. He qualified 22nd and maintained a mid-pack position for most of the race. A well-timed pit stop before a caution period elevated him to fourth place with nine laps remaining; however, several incidents late in the race resulted in him finishing in 29th position.
Personal life
In 2002, Räikkönen began a relationship with Finnish model and former Miss Scandinavia 2001, Jenni Dahlman. The couple wed on 31 July 2004 and divided their time between Switzerland and Finland. They eventually separated in February 2013 and finalized their divorce the following year. Subsequently, Räikkönen became engaged to Minna-Mari "Minttu" Virtanen, a fitness and underwear model. Their first child, a son, arrived on 28 January 2015. Räikkönen and Virtanen were married on 7 August 2016 in Siena, Italy. They welcomed a daughter on 16 May 2017, followed by another daughter in June 2023. That same year, the family moved from Switzerland to Como, Italy.
Among Räikkönen's interests are snowboarding and ice hockey. He has also taken part in various motorsport competitions beyond Formula One. Notably, in 2007 he won a snowmobile race in Finland competing under the alias "James Hunt," a nod to the 1976 world champion. Later that year, he entered a powerboat race in Hanko, Finland, again using the "James Hunt" pseudonym, where his team earned a best-dressed crew award.
In August 2008, Finnish postal authorities issued stamps featuring Räikkönen to mark the postal service’s 370th anniversary, recognizing him as the F1 World Champion of 2007. That same year, Forbes placed him 36th on their "Celebrity 100" list, ranking him as the 26th highest-paid celebrity and fifth among sports figures; by 2009, he had risen to become the second highest-paid athlete.
Räikkönen established the motocross team Ice 1 Racing in 2011, with management led by seven-time enduro world champion Kari Tiainen. The team competes with MX1 rider Toni Eriksson and MX2 rider Ludde Söderberg while also nurturing six junior riders at the national level.
In 2018, Ferrari took legal measures on Räikkönen's behalf concerning extortion allegations made by a woman who threatened to accuse him of misconduct following the 2016 Canadian Grand Prix.
Räikkönen has openly expressed his faith in God and cites Scarface as his favorite film. His distinctive voice is a result of an injury sustained during childhood when a bicycle accident damaged his vocal cords. Among his close friends are fellow drivers Sebastian Vettel and Antonio Giovinazzi.
Public persona and reaction
Räikkönen is widely recognized for his aversion to media interviews, frequently delivering blunt or monosyllabic answers. For example, before the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix, when ITV analyst Martin Brundle questioned why he missed a ceremony where football legend Pelé honored Michael Schumacher with a lifetime achievement award, Räikkönen simply replied, "I was having a shit."
During his initial tenure at McLaren, team principal Ron Dennis dubbed him "Iceman" due to his composed demeanor under pressure and reserved interactions with fellow drivers, team personnel, and journalists. Räikkönen himself stated, "I'm here to do my best," emphasizing that pleasing others was not his priority. His calm nature is illustrated by moments such as sleeping for half an hour prior to his first Formula One race and casually eating ice cream during the suspended 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix.
Annoyed by distractions unrelated to racing, Räikkönen has been candid about his disdain for politics and off-track controversies within the sport. In an interview from 2013, he dismissed Formula One politics as "stupid." Lotus team principal Éric Boullier characterized him as someone who essentially "does whatever he wants."
At the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix, after his McLaren MP4-21 retired due to heat shield malfunction, Räikkönen proceeded directly to his nearby yacht still wearing his racing suit and relaxed in a jacuzzi.
His brief radio exchanges have attracted considerable attention. During the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after taking the lead, he told race engineer Simon Rennie, "Just leave me alone, I know what to do!" When reminded about tyre temperature management, he responded sharply: "Yes, yes, yes, yes, I'm doing that all the time. You don't have to remind me every ten seconds!" This initial remark received extensive media coverage; however, Räikkönen did not issue an apology afterward. Although reports surfaced claiming he produced 500 T-shirts bearing this quote for Lotus fans, he later denied these claims.
Helmet
The design of Räikkönen's helmet, crafted by UffeDesigns and produced by Arai (2001–2006, 2012), Bell (2013, 2015–2021), and Schuberth (2007–2009, 2014), underwent gradual modifications throughout his career. A distinctive V motif representing a soaring bird consistently adorned the top, alongside the nickname "Iceman". The trident emblem appeared in white during his tenure with Sauber and early McLaren years up to 2005, before changing to red from 2006 onwards during his time with McLaren and Ferrari.
Originally, the helmet's primary color was blue accented with white and silver details, but this palette evolved significantly. While racing for Ferrari, it featured a white base embellished with black and red tribal patterns. In his WRC and NASCAR appearances, he opted for a blue Stilo helmet showcasing Red Bull branding combined with silver-white highlights that echoed both Red Bull's identity and his earlier Sauber helmet design. Upon returning to Formula One, his helmet was predominantly black with white and red diagonal stripes. For the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix, he sported a replica of James Hunt’s 1976 helmet. After rejoining Ferrari in 2014, the predominant color shifted to bright red with white diagonal elements; in 2015, it returned to white. Since 2014, Räikkönen preferred Bell helmets instead of Ferrari’s official supplier Schuberth.
Other ventures
Following his retirement from Formula One in 2022, Räikkönen took on the role of team principal for the Kawasaki Racing Team during the 2022 Motocross World Championship season.
Karting career summary
| Season | Series | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Nordic Championship — ICA | 3rd |
| 1997 | Nordic Championship — ICA | 4th |
| Finnish Championship — ICA | 1st | |
| World Championship — Formula Super A | 30th | |
| 1998 | Trofeo Andrea Margutti— Formula A | 4th |
| Nordic Championship — ICA | 1st | |
| Finnish Championship — ICA | 1st | |
| Finnish Championship — Formula A | 1st | |
| World Championship — Formula Super A | 24th | |
| 1999 | Finnish Championship — Formula A | 2nd |
| World Championship — Formula Super A | 10th |
Racing career summary
Complete Formula Renault 2.0 UK results
(key) (Races shown in bold denote pole position; races in italics represent fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Manor Motorsport | BRH 3rd |
DON 1st |
THR 1st |
KNO 2nd |
OUL 1st |
SIL 3rd |
CRO 1st |
SNE 1st |
DON 1st |
BRH 1st |
OUL | SIL | 1st overall | 316 points |
Complete Formula One results
(key) (Entries in bold indicate pole position; entries in italics signify fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | WDC | Points | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:F1 | Red Bull Sauber Petronas | Sauber C20 | Petronas 01A 3.0 V10 | AUS 6th |
MAL Retired |
BRA Retired |
SMR Retired |
ESP 8th |
AUT 4th |
MON 10th |
CAN 4th |
EUR 10th |
FRA 7th |
GBR 5th |
GER Retired |
HUN 7th |
10th place overall |
9 points scored |
Complete WRC results
| Year | Team | Vehicle | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:WRC | Tommi Mäkinen Racing | Fiat Grande Punto S2000 | IRE | NOR | CYP | POR | ARG | ITA | GRE | POL | FIN Ret |
AUS | ESP | GBR | NC | 0 | |
| Template:WRC | Citroën Junior Team | Citroën C4 WRC | SWE 29 |
MEX Ret |
JOR 8 |
TUR 5 |
NZL | POR 10 |
BUL 11 |
FIN 25 |
GER 7 |
JPN Ret |
FRA Ret |
ESP DNS |
GBR 8 |
10th | 25 |
| Template:WRC | ICE 1 Racing | Citroën DS3 WRC | SWE 8 |
MEX | POR 7 |
JOR 6 |
ITA | ARG | GRE 7 |
FIN 9 |
GER 6 |
AUS WD |
FRA Ret |
ESP Ret |
GBR Ret |
10th | 34 |
| Template:Center | |||||||||||||||||
NASCAR
(Template:NASCAR driver results legend#key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned through points standings or practice times. * – Indicates most laps led.)
Cup Series
| NASCAR Cup Series performance summary | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | Car No. | Manufacturer | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | "NCSC" | Points Earned | |
| [[2022 NASCAR Cup Series#2022 season overview | 2022]] | Trackhouse Racing | 91 | Chevrolet |
style="background:#EFCFFF;" |
|
41st |
1 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year | Team | Car No. | Manufacturer | "NCSC" | Points Earned | Reference | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [[2023 NASCAR Cup Series#2023 season overview | 2023]] | Trackhouse Racing | 91 | Chevrolet |
style="background:#CFCFFF;" |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| !40th | !8 | ! |
Nationwide Series
| NASCAR Nationwide Series performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Manufacturer | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | NNSC | Points | |||||
| 2011 | Kyle Busch Motorsports | 87 | Toyota | DAY | PHO | LVS | BRI | CAL | TEX | TAL | NSH | RCH | DAR | DOV | IOW | CLT 27 |
CHI | MCH | ROA | DAY | KEN | NHA | NSH | IRP | IOW | GLN | CGV | BRI | ATL | RCH | CHI | DOV | KAN | CLT | TEX | PHO | HOM | Finished: 89th | 01 | |||||
Camping World Truck Series
| NASCAR Camping World Truck Series performance overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Manufacturer | Event1 | Event2 | Event3 | Event4 | Event5 | Event6 | Event7 | Event8 | Event9 | Event10 | Event11 | Event12 | Event13 | Event14 | Event15 | Event16 | Event17 | Event18 | Event19 | Event20 | Event21 | Event22 | Event23 | Event24 | NCWTC | Points | |||||||||||||||
Kyle Busch Motorsports
15
Toyota
DAY
PHO
DAR
MAR
NSH
DOV
CLT
15
KAN
TEX
KEN
IOW
NSH
IRP
POC
MCH
BRI
ATL
CHI
NHA
KEN
LVS
TAL
MAR
TEX
HOM
Final position:81st
01
Ineligible to earn series points.
Formula One records
Räikkönen is the holder of multiple distinguished Formula One records:
Additional Notes
Formula One milestones
- Räikkönen's victory at the 2007 Chinese Grand Prix represented Ferrari’s 200th win and their 600th podium finish as a constructor.
- He secured Ferrari’s 200th pole position during the 2008 French Grand Prix.
- At the 2016 Russian Grand Prix, Räikkönen earned Ferrari’s 700th podium placement.
- He stands out as the only driver to have won Grands Prix across the V10, V8, and V6 turbo hybrid engine periods.
- Räikkönen is among just two drivers to claim the World Championship after being third in the standings prior to the final race.
- He is the third Ferrari driver to clinch the World Championship in his debut season with the team, joining Juan Manuel Fangio and Jody Scheckter.
- As the third Finnish World Champion, he follows in the footsteps of Keke Rosberg and Mika Häkkinen.
- Räikkönen remains unique as the sole driver to win a Grand Prix for Lotus F1.
- As of now, he is the latest Ferrari competitor to secure the World Championship title.
See also
Bibliography
External links
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedalfa-2021
- Pages with script errors
- Pages with reference errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1979 births
- Living people
- Alfa Romeo Formula One drivers
- British Formula Renault 2.0 drivers
- Ferrari Formula One drivers
- Finnish expatriate sportspeople in Germany
- Finnish expatriate sportspeople in Japan
- Finnish expatriates in Italy
- Finnish expatriates in Monaco
- Finnish expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland
- Finnish expatriate sportspeople in the United Kingdom
- Finnish Formula One drivers
- Finnish racing drivers
- Finnish rally drivers
- Formula Ford drivers
- Formula One race winners
- Formula One World Drivers' Champions
- Formula Renault Eurocup drivers
- Karting World Championship drivers
- Lotus F1 Formula One drivers
- McLaren Formula One drivers
- Motorcycle racing team owners
- NASCAR drivers
- Sauber Formula One drivers
- Sportspeople from Espoo
- Racing drivers from Uusimaa
- World Rally Championship drivers
- Manor Motorsport drivers
- Haywood Racing drivers
- Citroën Racing drivers
- Kyle Busch Motorsports drivers
- 21st-century Finnish sportsmen