When Kimi Räikkönen walked away from Formula 1 at the end of 2021, many fans wondered what life would look like for the famously private “Iceman.”
There was one thing that quickly became clear: retirement from F1 did not mean retirement from motorsport — or from the commercial world surrounding it.
Rather than disappearing completely, Räikkönen has continued to build a life around projects connected to racing, technology, automotive brands and, increasingly, his family.
🏍️ FROM F1 TO MOTOCROSS
One of Räikkönen’s most significant post-F1 projects came in motocross.
In January 2022, Kawasaki announced Räikkönen as team principal of its factory MXGP operation. The move made sense given his long-standing passion for motocross and his previous involvement with Ice One Racing.
Räikkönen explained at the time that the project was much more than a hobby. He wanted to use the experience he had gained from Formula 1 to contribute strategically to a professional racing operation.
For fans, this offered a fascinating glimpse into a different side of the former world champion: Kimi was no longer simply the driver inside the car. He was now involved in the management and development side of a racing team.
🇺🇸 THE NASCAR ADVENTURE
Then came another unexpected chapter.
In 2022, Räikkönen returned to competitive racing through NASCAR, joining Trackhouse Racing’s PROJECT91 for a NASCAR Cup Series appearance at Watkins Glen.
The project was designed to give elite international drivers an opportunity to experience NASCAR, and Räikkönen became its first major international star. The programme attracted corporate partners including iLOQ and Recogni.
It was another reminder that leaving Formula 1 did not necessarily mean leaving the racing world behind.
🔐 THE iLOQ CONNECTION
Technology company iLOQ has also maintained a long relationship with Räikkönen.
That partnership has now expanded into a new family-focused chapter.
In September 2026, iLOQ announced a global campaign featuring both Kimi and his son Robin Räikkönen. The campaign focuses on the next generation and Robin’s developing journey in motorsport.
That makes the partnership particularly interesting to fans because it connects two generations of the Räikkönen family — Kimi’s established legacy and Robin’s early racing ambitions.
🚗 NOKIAN TYRES
Another major commercial partnership came in December 2025, when Nokian Tyres announced Räikkönen as a brand ambassador.
The Finnish company positioned the collaboration around shared Finnish roots, performance and driving in challenging conditions.
For Räikkönen, it is another example of how his reputation extends beyond Formula 1. His identity as a Finnish motorsport icon remains valuable to automotive and technology companies looking to connect with racing audiences.
👨👦 THE NEXT GENERATION
Perhaps the most interesting development for fans is how Räikkönen’s public activities increasingly intersect with his role as a father.
Robin Räikkönen is pursuing his own motorsport ambitions, and recent partnerships involving Kimi and Robin show how the family’s connection with the racing world is evolving.
Kimi spent more than two decades building his own reputation behind the wheel. Now, fans are watching to see what happens as his son begins creating a motorsport story of his own.
That doesn’t mean Robin’s career will follow exactly the same path as his father’s. But the connection naturally attracts enormous attention because of Kimi’s legacy.
🧊 LIFE AFTER THE F1 SPOTLIGHT
The biggest difference between Kimi’s current chapter and his F1 years may be the level of control he has over his public life.
During his racing career, almost every weekend brought interviews, cameras, sponsors and intense media attention.
Today, his activities are much more selective.
Motorsport remains important. Brand partnerships continue. Family has become increasingly visible. And projects such as motocross demonstrate that Räikkönen’s relationship with racing extends well beyond Formula 1.
For someone who became famous for saying little, Kimi has created a remarkably interesting second chapter.
And perhaps the biggest question for fans now isn’t whether the Iceman has completely left motorsport behind.
It’s what the next generation of the Räikkönen racing story will look like.
