Let's leave the Iceman Kimi Raikkonen alone

Kimi Raikkonen

Kimi Matias Raikkonen, at 35, still remains an enigmatic racer in Formula One. With over 200 races, one world championship, an enthralling comeback to the motorsport world and a monosyllabic style of engaging with his beloved critics and adoring fans, Raikkonen has continued to reign in a sport that seems to need him more than the Iceman needs it.

Defined in Hebrew as “Lifted by God”, Raikkonen rules the circuits with an unflinching unique attribute, a style that has fashioned many a triumph for the gifted Finn – raw pace on any race track, under any condition.

The critics don’t bother Raikkonen

Seldom bothered by what critics or his arch rivals say about him, Raikkonen would be the first to refuse answering stupid questions. Legend has it that, the laconic Finn was trained under a communications and PR agency at Mclaren when he first burst on the higly politicised scene of the pinnacle of all motorsports.

Kimi comes from Espoo, an idyllic relaxation spot for travelers to Finland, a place known more for its unbending cold climate than any other facet. And it is not surprising that to the biased followers of Formula one, Raikkonen’s no-bullshit attitude, one which sees the racer duck more questions than answer, appears to be a rather “cold” approach when in fact it is a mere tacit reflection of his honest personality.

Kimi’s first retirement wasn’t a happy farewell

Kimi left Formula One at the peak of his form during the end of the 2009 season in very dramatic fashion. The same lad that had won Ferrari its last glory, by clinching the World Championship for the most popular team way back in 2007, was the person that was asked to exit and make way for the double world champion Fernando Alonso.

During his final press conference appearance for the Prancing Horse, the Iceman exclaimed, “It is not the end of the world, I achieved something I wanted (refering to the ice cool 2007 championship) and now it’s time to do something else. People are talking as if I am crying but I am not.”

Though his fans would have actually been distraught at his sudden decision to quit the motorsport that he had decorated time and again with fine skill and unmatched prowess, Kimi himself found himself in a situation where there was still a lot that remained unconquered with his sudden exit. Never the one to give an exact picture of his heart, Kimi does wear his attitude on the sleeve.

Triumphing through the testing times

Raikkonen remained an aloof figure even in the silent triumphs that the 2009 season brought with his literal one-man show. In his heart, he was always there for the team and had contributed to the team’s sole win at the Spa Francochamps in Belgium, in the challenging 2009 season that saw an indifferent performance from Felipe Massa, the not so obdurate challenger from Ferrari’s stable.

Back then the car wasn’t closest to being the ideal four wheeeler that would fetch Ferrari any sizeable glory, but Raikkonen’s never-say-die approach certainly was. People wondered what would become of him post Formula one, often remarking that Kimi would be better off in a pub flirting with bar dancers than being behind the wheels in the most pulsating contents on earth.

The comeback that silenced all doubters

The suspicious brains were more outspoken than ever, saying that form had ditched Raikkonen, and reiterating that Kimi was maybe not just good enough anymore. But the enigma that Raikkonen is, he always leaves the naysayers dumbstruck. He came to Formula One exactly after two seasons, to compete at the highest level in 2012, but only after cooling off with great speed and endurance in rallying and NASCAR Truck racing.

Raikkonen competed with moderate success in the motorsport versions away from Formula One, knowing well that though Ferrari had done him in in 2009, there was more to the him than just being sloshed in a bar at some junkyard unexplaianable spot in Europe. Kimi came back and was the top draw at Team Lotus in the 2012 season. Leaving his doubters to forever specualte his next moves, Raikkonen not just came back to the sport that he has contributed so richly to, but also managed to pull up some aces in a mediocre team, as far as car development and available finances were concerned.

With over 7 podiums in the 2012 season, Raikkonen drew blood in the desert fortress of Abu Dhabi, defeating Ferrari’s Alonso, the Spaniard he made way for back in 2009, and Deutschland’s thunderman Sebastian Vettel. Wtih witty, in-the-face one liners, there was just no avoiding Kimi Raikkonen.

Consolidating his position in the motorsport world

Be it at Silverstone, or Malaysia, Singapore or Abu Dhabi, the fragrance of team Lotus was bloomed by none other than Formula One’s effervescent icon, Kimi Raikkonen. He finished the season in third position in the World Championship and set the ball rolling in the team’s favour with back-to-back strong performances.

With a team that remained uninterested in his personal life, refusing to initiate much of a dialogue with the reclusive speed demon, Raikkonen found himself at home with the Enstone based outfit. He continued to shine in the 2013 season, lifting the season opener and striking gold for his side at Melbourne. Kimi then made more pit tops at the podium. Quick to open the champagne and smart enough to not waste it away by splashing it on spectators, Raikkonen’s legend needed no revamping, as his time had come once again to show the world just what he was capable of.

He made more headlines by finishing 3rd on the podium starting from P13 in the Singapore Grand Prix, and only a back scuffle saw him withdrawing from the last of the 3 races of the 2013 season, but not before silencing all his critics with his skill and astute brain intact and at work. And what was the ploy adopted by the Iceman? Nothing substantial apart from being darn quick out there.

Seasons will come and go, but there is one man who knows how to make his performances and his cult last! Put no display of words out there, just go behind the wheels and continue to do what you have been doing with ease and a sense of panache. Just drive.

A tribute to the Ice Man

Here is a little tribute that will hopefully resonate with the critics and fans of Kimi the Iceman, alike:

Stress, worry, bother and even commotionThey run experiencing these restlessly,But the Iceman gives no emotion

Armed with a little clue, but guarded with no facts to decode life,He never tells you his aim, nor makes any second futile in living his life

When people finally have answers to put up to their own puzzles, he has but no questionsThis carefree dynamo responds calmly even to the most unmanageable of all life’s sides

What seems confusing, bewildering and dominating to the rest,The Iceman keeps cool and puts up his very best,

Never a moment of bother, never a drop of sweatWhen the rest are giving up, Raikkonen focuses on the most challenging of threats

Glory is won, and a new legend is born,When every challenge encountering the Iceman is torn

For he is no saint, no messiah, but might be a near vigilante against pressureHis is a special miracle that refuses to give up and fails to recognize even the thing called terror.