Why Kimi Raikkonen is an F1 legend

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix served as the 349^th and last of an F1 career that began in 2001 and yielded a world title, 21 race wins, 82 additional podiums and 18 pole positions.

There can be no doubt Raikkonen has been one of F1's great characters, developing a cult following for his monosyllabic answers over the years, his use of the sound 'mwah' before responding to questions and his often hilarious radio messages. The fact one of his greatest of all time – "Leave me alone I know what I'm doing" – became a print on a t-shirt says it all.

Behind that off-track persona there was a highly skilled, fiercely competitive racer on it who was perhaps fortuitous to claim his 2007 championship given the misfortune that befell Lewis Hamilton in the final two races that year. But then, he was in the right place at the right time to pick up the pieces, concluding that particular campaign with two wins when they were most needed.

You could argue that for such a talent, one world championship did not do him justice, particularly in twice going close during his time with McLaren from 2002-2006 following a debut campaign with Sauber and prior to joining the Scuderia in 2007.

Beyond that sole success, Raikkonen never came close to scaling such heights again, despite another five years with Ferrari from 2014-2018 that followed a two-year sabbatical from F1 and two seasons with Lotus on his return.

There have always been question marks about his commitment and enthusiasm, with the 42-year-old conceding himself that racing "has taken a lot of time from my life over the years but it's never been the main thing in my life. I've always appreciated my life much more than what happens in F1."

Yet there are many who will not say a bad word about Raikkonen, such as four-time champion Sebastian Vettel who was a team-mate to the Finnish driver for four years with Ferrari from 2015-2018.

"He is a true character," said Vettel. "I enjoyed the time that I had with him as a team-mate.

"To be fair, I got to know him before and he is probably one of the very few drivers that I have met from day one until the present day that hasn’t changed in a sense that he has been very open.

"He welcomed me as a young kid when I entered Formula 1, and at that time he was probably the most established Formula 1 driver, at least one of them. Great respect.

"I don’t think you can have an argument or a problem with Kimi. If you do, the problem is not him, the problem is you. He is a great person. I am sure we will stay in touch so I wish him all the best – and I will miss the silence.”

That last comment is reference, of course, to the fact Raikkonen was always a man of few words, notoriously with the media, an element of F1 he never enjoyed. The 42-year-old mellowed over the years and, to that end, I had the privilege of sitting down with him for a recent chat and he was particularly engaging as he spoke about his impending retirement. Raikkonen revealed the thought of leaving F1 for good had crossed his mind on numerous occasions over the years. So why now?

"I want to have more time at home with the kids, they grow up quickly," remarked Raikkonen with that kind of openness referred to by Vettel.

"I want to spend time with the family, do more things. We've not really had the opportunity to live as a family because of my schedule. That changes everything."

Raikkonen's family these days is son Robin, 6, and daughter Rianna, 4, to second wife Minttu.

"For sure, the kids, it's not been easy for them, it's hard to be away a lot," remarked Raikkonen. "They're used to it because it's what they know but they've been asking a long time now [about him leaving F1].

"And you know kids, when they're two years old they start doing a lot of things. Robin is in the first class in school so it's all different now, and it goes quickly. It doesn't feel like six years ago when he was born.

"But I'm also looking forward to deciding as a family if we want to go somewhere, and not having to book a race or a test, fitting into some other schedule."

From the age of 21, Raikkonen devoted his entire adult life to F1 primarily. Even for those two years away in 2010-2011, he tried his hand at the World Rally Championship. But as Raikkonen mentioned earlier, F1 did not consume him, unlike some drivers over the years and you sense he will not miss it too much.

"I wouldn't have done it for this long if I hadn't have enjoyed it," said Raikkonen. "I enjoy the racing, the driving, solving the issues that we come across. The rest, I never enjoyed it, but that's part of F1.

"Obviously, there have been good days, bad days, but it's the same in normal life. You might have a bad day one day and the next it's completely different."

Raikkonen will at least devote more time to the motocross team he founded in 2011, Ice 1 Racing, but as for any kind of racing return, that is open to debate.

"I don't have any plans, so who knows," mulled Raikkonen. "I'll do normal things and see what comes up. If it's something interesting then maybe I'll do something.

"Time will tell. So far I have zero plans and I don't want to make plans because right now I have the freedom to do things with the family, so we'll see."

Intriguingly, to conclude, he said: "I'm always open to listen if it's something that makes sense."

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images and Sauber.