Kimi’s F1 Journey: A Year in Review | Rookie to Racer

Kimi Räikkönen revisited questions initially posed before his rookie Formula 1 season in a recently released “time capsule” episode, offering reflections on a career that spanned two decades and culminated in a 2007 World Championship with Ferrari. The retrospective examined both on-track performance and the personal evolution experienced during his time in the sport. Räikkönen debuted in Formula 1 with Sauber in 2001, subsequently racing for McLaren (2002-2006), Ferrari (2007-2009, 2014-2018), Lotus (2012-2013), and Alfa Romeo (2019-2021), amassing a total of 349 Grand Prix starts. His championship victory in 2007 marked a high point, securing his place as a prominent figure in the sport’s history. He held the record for the most Formula 1 race starts – 349 – from 2020 until 2022, when Fernando Alonso surpassed him. Beyond his Formula 1 career, Räikkönen briefly ventured into the World Rally Championship (WRC) during his hiatus from the sport in 2010 and 2011, competing in 21 rallies with ICE 1 Racing and driving a Citroën DS3 WRC. While he participated in the WRC, he did not achieve a victory, securing 59 points across his rallies. Throughout his career, Räikkönen cultivated a reputation for his reserved demeanor and stoicism, earning him the nickname “Iceman,” a moniker he embraced, even adopting it as a tattoo on his left arm and featuring it on his helmet design. This persona contrasted with the often-exuberant personalities common in the high-pressure world of Formula 1. He achieved 21 race wins and 46 fastest laps during his Formula 1 career, accumulating 1,873 World Championship points and standing on the podium 103 times. He led a total of 1,307 laps over 6,625.7 kilometers raced.