Iceman’s title remains the last joy for Ferrari fans, who have been waiting 17 years for another Drivers’ Championship. What should have been the start of a new cycle instead turned out to be a premature swan song: after Interlagos 2007, Kimi Raikkonen won only six more races (four with Ferrari, two with Lotus), even taking a break from Formula 1 to compete in the World Rally Championship.

David Coulthard’s comments
A unique character, described by former McLaren teammate David Coulthard as follows: “He was a great natural talent. He went straight from Formula Renault to driving a Sauber at Mugello, one of the scariest circuits you can drive on in an F1 car,” he said on The Red Flags podcast.

Nevertheless, Iceman could have left a much greater mark in F1 history: “He had immense talent and won a World Championship. But if he had Michael Schumacher’s work ethic, he would have won more. Michael kept the engineers and mechanics accountable, both at the track and in the factory. He pushed them, and they understood him. That was the fuel that helped everyone improve.” – the former Red Bull driver concluded.

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Kimi Raikkonen remains the last Ferrari driver to claim a Formula 1 world championship title, securing the crown in dramatic fashion by narrowly defeating Lewis Hamilton in 2007.

The Finnish driver emerged as one of the brightest talents of the early 2000s. After debuting with Sauber in 2001, Kimi Raikkonen moved to McLaren in 2002, where he quickly established himself as a serious title contender. In 2003, he came tantalizingly close to dethroning Michael Schumacher, only to fall short. Two years later, in 2005, Kimi Raikkonen’s spectacular performances, including a now-iconic overtake in Japan, showcased his brilliance, but the championship slipped away to Fernando Alonso.

A difficult 2006 season with a struggling McLaren team prompted the Finnish driver to make a pivotal career move. He replaced Michael Schumacher at Ferrari in 2007, and although it seemed Hamilton was destined to take the title in his debut season, Kimi Raikkonen staged one of F1’s most remarkable comebacks, clinching the championship by a single point—his only career title.

The following years, however, were less triumphant. In 2008, Kimi Raikkonen’s defense of his title faltered, as Lewis Hamilton narrowly beat his Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa to the championship. Kimi Raikkonen’s performance in 2009 was hindered by underwhelming machinery, and despite flashes of brilliance, his time at Ferrari ended abruptly at the close of the season.

Kimi Raikkonen’s abrupt departure from Ferrari left him disillusioned with F1
Raikkonen had originally signed a three-year contract with Ferrari in 2007, with the intention of racing through the 2010 season. However, the team opted to replace him with Alonso for 2010, prompting Raikkonen to part ways with Ferrari earlier than anticipated.

The 2009 Formula 1 season marked a turbulent period for the sport, as sweeping regulation changes reshaped the competitive landscape. Ferrari struggled to adapt, allowing teams like Brawn GP and Red Bull to seize the advantage. Although Kimi Raikkonen demonstrated strong form in the latter half of the season, his sixth-place finish in the championship standings fell short of expectations.

Following his departure from Ferrari, the Finnish driver was rumored to be in talks with several teams, including McLaren, Mercedes, and Toyota—though Toyota’s subsequent withdrawal from F1 dashed any potential deal. Ultimately, no agreement came to fruition, and Kimi Raikkonen stepped away from Formula 1 entirely. Reflecting on this period during a 2019 episode of the *Beyond The Grid* podcast, Kimi Raikkonen admitted he was “very happy” to leave the sport, revealing that by the end of 2009, he had “zero interest” in Formula 1.

When asked if he missed racing after his departure from Ferrari, he admitted that he initially felt no longing for it at all, emphasizing he was “absolutely” content with leaving. He explained that while he could have signed a new contract, it made no sense to him as he had “zero interest” in remaining in the sport. Reflecting on the situation, he expressed satisfaction with his decision to step away, citing the politics and other issues in Formula 1 as factors that reinforced his happiness to leave. Although his contract was paid out, he reiterated that he had no desire to join another team and was genuinely pleased with his departure.

Lewis Hamilton admitted he was puzzled when Kimi Raikkonen made his second exit from Ferrari at the end of the 2018 season.

Following his first departure from Ferrari in 2009, Raikkonen ventured into the World Rally Championship before making a triumphant return to Formula 1 with Lotus Renault in 2012. The Finn wasted no time proving he still had the skills to compete at the highest level, securing two race victories and 15 podium finishes during his two seasons with the Enstone-based team. His comeback campaign in 2012 was particularly impressive, as he finished third in the drivers’ standings.

In 2014, after Felipe Massa’s move to Williams, the Finnish driver rejoined Ferrari, where he would remain for five seasons. Despite the dominance of Mercedes during this period, Raikkonen delivered consistent performances, collecting regular podium finishes. His crowning achievement during this stint came at the 2018 United States Grand Prix, where he claimed his final F1 victory. However, at the end of that season, Raikkonen chose to leave Ferrari and returned to Sauber—by then operating as Alfa Romeo.

Lewis Hamilton, reflecting on Ferrari’s decision to part ways with Kimi Raikkonen, voiced his surprise and called the Finn one of his “favorite drivers.” The seven-time world champion appeared to believe that Ferrari might have underestimated the value Raikkonen brought to the team, both on and off the track.

Kimi Raikkonen spent three seasons with Alfa Romeo before retiring from Formula 1 in 2021, bringing an end to a storied career. As the 2025 season looms, Hamilton finds himself at Ferrari, determined to break their 18-year championship drought and secure his place in the team’s rich history.

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Looking ahead to the 2026 Formula 1 season, Fernando Alonso’s vast experience could give Aston Martin a significant edge as they aim to master the new regulations and mount a serious challenge for the Drivers’ Championship. While Fernando Alonso wouldn’t become the oldest champion in F1 history if he were to claim the title in 2026, he could still do so in 2027. Juan Manuel Fangio’s record of winning the championship at 46 years old in 1957 remains the benchmark for now.

During his time with Ferrari, Alonso faced moments of frustration, notably when the team signed Kimi Raikkonen, a move that left him feeling sidelined. Robert Kubica, who had a contract to replace Felipe Massa starting in the 2012 season, believed that he could have outperformed Alonso at Ferrari. However, Robert Kubica‘s career was nearly cut short by a life-threatening rally crash, allowing the Brazilian to stay on for a while longer before being replaced by Kimi Raikkonen ahead of the 2014 season.

The Spanish driver had voiced concerns about the team’s performance up until that point, but he was particularly frustrated by the decision to replace his teammate Massa, with whom he had a strong working relationship. Reflecting on the move in 2013, F1 legend Mario Andretti suggested that Alonso’s outspoken criticisms of Ferrari were likely a factor in the team’s decision to replace Felipe Massa Massa with the Finnish driver.

Mario Andretti told F1GrandPrix.it that, in his view, the Spanish driver had grown frustrated during the season, and his remarks had offended the Italian side. He added that the team would not have hired someone capable of challenging and potentially defeating Alonso otherwise.

Did Fernando Alonso Make the Right Call by Leaving Ferrari After 2014?
Fernando Alonso’s departure from Ferrari at the end of 2014 remains a heavily debated decision in Formula 1 circles. His final season with the team saw him far outperform new teammate Kimi Raikkonen, scoring 161 points compared to the Finn’s 55—a near threefold margin. However, Alonso’s frustrations with Ferrari’s lack of competitiveness at the time led him to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Since Fernando Alonso’s exit, Scuderia Ferrari has managed to win at least one race in all but three seasons, though they have yet to secure a championship. In hindsight, staying with the Scuderia might have been a better option, as his subsequent move to McLaren proved disastrous. The team’s uncompetitive cars and unreliable engines left Alonso without a single podium finish across four seasons, a stark contrast to his earlier success.

After briefly retiring from Formula 1, Fernando Alonso returned with Alpine and later joined Aston Martin, but he has struggled to recapture the magic of his early career. Despite flashes of brilliance, the consistent form that defined his championship-winning years remains elusive.

Looking ahead, the 2026 regulations offer the Spaniard one last realistic shot at adding to his legacy in Formula 1. With Aston Martin’s ambitious plans and the arrival of Adrian Newey, the new rules could align perfectly with Alonso’s wealth of experience. If Aston Martin delivers a championship-contending car, Fernando Alonso’s choice to leave Ferrari might ultimately pay off—though it has been a long and challenging road to get to this point.

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The four new faces
Australian Jack Doohan will team up with Pierre Gasly after replacing Esteban Ocon in the final Abu Dhabi GP. Ocon, in turn, is set to start the next season with Haas, where he will partner with rookie Oliver Bearman. The term “rookie” is loosely applied, as Bearman had already stepped in for Ferrari during the Saudi Arabian GP to replace the unavailable Carlos Sainz and later joined Haas in Baku and Interlagos, both times substituting for Kevin Magnussen. Haas will therefore feature a completely revamped line-up, much like Sauber. At Sauber, Nico Hülkenberg participated in post-season tests in Abu Dhabi alongside the fresh F2 champion and FIA Rookie of the Year, Gabriel Bortoleto. Lastly, another significant newcomer is Andrea Kimi Antonelli from Bologna, who joins Mercedes following Lewis Hamilton’s departure.

Number choices and iconic returns
The four drivers have also selected their permanent racing numbers, which they will carry throughout their Formula 1 careers. It is worth noting that only the world champion has the right to use #1, as is currently the case with Max Verstappen. But what numbers will the new entries use?

Bortoleto will bring back the #5, previously associated with world champion Sebastian Vettel. Similarly, Doohan will adopt #7, famously used by another champion, Kimi Raikkonen. The Australian initially aimed for #12 in honor of his idol Ayrton Senna, but that number had already been claimed by Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Oliver Bearman, meanwhile, takes the “record” for the highest number on the grid, #87.

If Liam Lawson is confirmed at Racing Bulls, the New Zealander will retain his #30. However, if Isack Hadjar is promoted, there is no confirmation yet regarding the number the Frenchman will choose.

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Jack Doohan has chosen his race number
There could be no better occasion than the Las Vegas Grand Prix to unveil his lucky number to the world. The setting is perfect: the gambling capital, with dice rolling on the green felt and the roulette ball spinning endlessly. For Alpine’s young debutant, Jack Doohan, the ball has landed on 7. This will be the race number used by the Australian, the son of motorsport legend Mick Doohan, throughout his Formula 1 career starting from the 2025 season.

In honor of Kimi Raikkonen
Jack Doohan announced his choice in Las Vegas via a video shared on Alpine’s social media accounts. His decision is unmistakably linked to Kimi Raikkonen, who carried the number 7 from 2014 until his retirement in 2021, making it one of his signature marks. “The 7 will be my race number for 2025,” Jake Doohan said, “and I’m super excited because I really wanted to choose a number that I had raced with before and that had great significance to me. I used it in 2019, but it’s also one of the numbers used by one of my idols, a special person and driver like Kimi Raikkonen. I can’t wait to continue this tradition and make the number 7 my own, hoping it brings me luck.”

Jack Doohan is the first of the new rookies to take on such a “heavy” number, one that belonged for many years to a world champion who remains beloved and widely followed like Kimi Raikkonen, who remains the most recent Ferrari F1 world champion, having secured the title for the Maranello team back in 2007 after a memorable Brazilian Grand Prix. According to the regulations, a race number remains reserved for at least two years after the last race of the driver who used it, meaning it officially became available again following the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and could be claimed starting with the current F1 season.

Jack Doohan will, however, need to prove himself worthy of defending the number on the track, showing both character and speed. According to recent rumors, the young Australian has a contract with Alpine for only the first five races of the upcoming season.

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Talent and personality
One World Championship, 21 victories, 103 podiums, and 18 pole positions. These are the cold numbers, but he, nicknamed the Iceman, cannot be described by statistics alone. Kimi Raikkonen, who turns 45 today, was a reference point in the racing world for more than one generation of fans: extreme in talent but also in missed opportunities, with a personality that was unique, much more akin to the roaring 1970s than to his contemporary colleagues.

Few words yet highly expressive in gestures and attitudes, the Finnish driver became an icon to the public precisely because of his authentically different character from everything that surrounded him throughout his career. At the same time, this trait didn’t prevent him from fully living his passion for motorsport, competing in 349 F1 Grands Prix, third all-time.

Championship and missed opportunities
On his birthday, the two most iconic teams of his career, McLaren and Ferrari, paid tribute to him on social media. At McLaren, we saw perhaps the fastest and most talented Raikkonen ever, coming close to dethroning Schumacher in 2003 and ultimately undone more by the (un)reliability of his car than by any inferiority to Fernando Alonso in 2005.

At Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen lived two lives: he won one of the most incredible World Championships in history for how it was won – a victory that remains the last for a driver in red – and then completed the final chapter of his career with the unforgettable triumph in Austin in 2018, the roar of a lion who lives for true passions.

At the beginning and end, there was Sauber, with Lotus-Renault in between, the team known for iconic team radios and two epic victories – Abu Dhabi 2012 and Melbourne 2013 – which remained for many years the only wins not claimed by a driver in a Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, or McLaren.

And we can’t forget his ventures outside of F1, from WRC to his recent foray into NASCAR. All this and much more was Kimi Raikkonen behind the wheel. Simply, Iceman.

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It seems he has what it takes, as even the 2007 Formula One world champion remarked in an interview a few months ago. After trying out the simulator together, Kimi mentioned his son, saying, “For now, I’m still slightly faster, but that could change soon.” These words only raise expectations for young Robin, who at just nine years old has already celebrated his first title.

Nine Years Old but Already a Title Holder
Despite his young age, Robin Raikkonen has already secured his first trophy. The young prodigy triumphed in the Swiss RMC championship in the Micro Max category.

The victory was captured by his mother, Minttu, on social media with a video showing little Robin celebrating his hard-earned win.

These are the images shared on social media:

Robin will now continue his growth journey in karting as he awaits to see if he has the talent necessary to enter the world of single-seaters and try to replicate his father Kimi’s career.

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Raikkonen Jr: Formula 1 is one of Kimi’s son’s dreams.

Interviewed during the Monza Grand Prix, the former Ferrari driver and 2007 World Champion spoke about his family and his son Robin’s development. Already a young prodigy in karting, for now, he sees motorsport as “fun,” but the most beloved Ice Man in the Circus is already open to a future in racing.

It was 2021 when Kimi Raikkonen raced his last Formula 1 race. On a warm evening at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, the Finn said goodbye to the Circus with a retirement that certainly doesn’t do justice to a career full of successes. Yet, on reflection, it might be exactly what he wanted: no donuts on the main straight, no orchestrated scenes to make the event more spectacular. A goodbye and off he went.

Amid the chaos of the race finale and the duel between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, some might have even forgotten about the cool man from Espoo. No matter: in the hearts of fans, he remains one of the most beloved drivers of modern times, sometimes almost inexplicably. His 21 victories, 103 podiums, and that World Championship snatched from Lewis in 2007 pale in comparison to the greatness of his legend.

Away from the spotlight, Kimi Raikkonen has dedicated himself to his family: “I’m very busy, we moved to Italy, and since then, I’ve been working as a mechanic for Robin [his son, a go-kart driver] – he told F1.com – Rianna [his second daughter] does gymnastics, and then there’s the youngest [Grace, born in 2023]. There’s a lot to do in the family! But it’s going great.” – the former Ferrari driver explained in his interview during the Italian Grand Prix weekend.

Regarding his eldest son, Robin, dad Kimi doesn’t make any big predictions but is open to a future in motorsport: “For now, he’s racing karts. We’ll see if anything comes of it or not, who knows? But he’s having fun, and that’s the most important thing.” – the 2007 Formula one world champion concluded.

Source: f1ingenerale

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Kimi Raikkonen’s opinion on Kimi Antonelli’s arrival in F1

Of course, when Kimi Raikkonen was approached by the media, there had to be a question about the young driver who shares his name: “I’m aware of his situation. They told us Mercedes made the announcement just as we arrived at the track,” reports ‘Formula1.com.’

“I think it’s incredible news,” the 2007 Formula One world champion with Ferrari continued. “Next season will see a lot of new faces, and that’s good for the sport. I think it’s fantastic to have an Italian driver back on the grid. Positive news for everyone.” – the Finn added.

Raikkonen: “The team will know how to prepare him”

Many wonder if it might be too early to put Andrea Kimi Antonelli in a Formula 1 car at such a young age, especially since he skipped Formula 3 and hasn’t achieved great results in F2, apart from winning the Sprint Race at Silverstone and the Feature Race in Hungary.

The 2007 Formula 1 World Champion from Finland is confident that the Italian will do well behind the wheel of the Mercedes next year, considering how things used to be: “Andrea Kimi will be well-prepared. The team will know what to do. Nowadays, you can rely on simulators. In my time, they didn’t exist. You just jumped in! Now, in some ways, it’s much easier. I wish him and the other rookies all the best,” Kimi Raikkonen concluded, as reported by the official Formula 1 website.

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Robin has inherited the same passion from his father

Having been away from the Circus for more than two years (his last race in Abu Dhabi in 2021), Raikkonen was asked by the media for an update on life away from racing during this time.

“I’ve been busy. We moved to Italy, and I’ve been a mechanic for Robin.” The 2007 Ferrari world champion has passed his passion on to his 9-year-old son and, much like Jos did with Max Verstappen, has chosen to be very involved in the karting path Robin has started. “Then there’s Rianna, who does gymnastics, and the youngest girl (Grace, who turned one last June),” reports ‘Formula1.com.’

First comparison between the Raikkonen and Verstappen families

Regarding Robin Ace Matias’s journey, Kimi added: “He’s doing well, and the main thing is that he’s having fun. I don’t know if any opportunities will come. We’ll see.”

Some might notice similarities between the Raikkonen and Verstappen families. From the outside, Kimi appears to be very present, just as Jos was with Max. However, it seems that the 2007 champion manages to do it without putting too much pressure on his son. Of course, it’s still far too early to tell. Robin is only nine years old. In the future, we will certainly be able to make more accurate comparisons about the differences in approach and the influence the fathers have had on their sons’ careers.

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