Few Formula 1 drivers have built a reputation quite like Kimi Räikkönen. Known around the world as “The Iceman,” the Finnish driver became famous not only for his extraordinary speed, but also for his calm personality, brutally honest radio messages and unmistakable approach to racing.
Across more than two decades in motorsport, Kimi experienced the highest possible moments in Formula 1 — from spectacular victories and championship battles to difficult seasons, dramatic crashes and moments that became part of F1 history.
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THE 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The defining achievement of Kimi’s career came in 2007 when he won the Formula 1 World Championship with Ferrari.
The season went down to the wire, with Kimi entering the final race in Brazil needing a strong result to keep his championship hopes alive. Against the odds, he won the race while benefiting from the points situation involving Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
That victory secured Kimi’s first and only Formula 1 world championship by a single point.
For Ferrari fans, it became one of the most memorable championship finishes of the modern era.
THE 2005 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
Another race that perfectly captured Kimi’s ability came at Suzuka in 2005.
Starting from 17th on the grid, Räikkönen produced a remarkable recovery drive and eventually fought his way to victory. His decisive late-race pass on Giancarlo Fisichella became one of the standout moments of the race.
It was the kind of performance that reinforced Kimi’s reputation as a driver capable of producing something extraordinary when everything came together.
HIS FIRST F1 VICTORY
Kimi’s first Formula 1 victory came at the 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix.
Driving for McLaren, he secured his maiden win after starting from seventh on the grid. It was an important milestone in his career and the beginning of a relationship between Kimi and his fans that would continue for many years.
His victory also demonstrated that the quiet Finnish driver had the pace and composure to compete at the very highest level.
THE FERRARI YEARS
Kimi’s move to Ferrari in 2007 immediately created enormous expectations.
He won the championship in his first season with the team, making his Ferrari debut year unforgettable. Over the following seasons, he collected victories and podium finishes while becoming one of the team’s most recognizable drivers.
His Ferrari years also produced countless memorable images — the red car, the calm expression and the famous radio messages that often showed just how little patience he had for unnecessary distractions.
“LEAVE ME ALONE, I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING”
One of Kimi’s most famous radio messages came during the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
As he battled for position, his engineer repeatedly communicated with him over the radio. Kimi eventually responded with the now-famous:
“Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing.”
He went on to win the race.
The message perfectly captured the personality fans had come to associate with Kimi — direct, confident and completely focused on the task in front of him.
THE FAMOUS MONACO MOMENT
Kimi also became famous for moments that happened away from the traditional racing narrative.
During the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix, after retiring from the race, television cameras famously captured Räikkönen walking away from the paddock and eventually appearing on a yacht.
The image became one of the most recognizable Kimi moments of the era and reinforced his reputation as a driver who simply did things differently.
THE RETURN TO FERRARI
After spending several years away from Ferrari, Kimi returned to the team in 2014.
Although the second Ferrari spell did not produce another championship, it eventually delivered one of the most emotional moments of his later career: his victory at the 2018 United States Grand Prix.
It had been five years since his previous F1 victory.
Kimi’s win at Austin became his final Formula 1 victory and one of the most celebrated moments of his career.
THE FINAL F1 RACES
Kimi eventually brought his Formula 1 career to an end after the 2021 season.
By then, he had become much more than a former world champion. He was a fan favorite whose personality, racing ability and straightforward attitude had created a unique place in F1 history.
From his championship triumph in 2007 to his final victory in 2018 and his farewell season in 2021, Kimi’s career contained almost everything a motorsport fan could ask for — victories, heartbreak, controversy, humor, incredible comebacks and unforgettable moments.
And perhaps that is why, years after his final race, “The Iceman” remains one of the most remembered and talked-about personalities in Formula 1.
