Has Kimi still got it?
About to enter his 15th season in Formula One with a team that seduces every single driver out there, Raikkonen will be hoping to make the most out of what is rumored to be his swansong with Ferrari. This is a team where he won the 2007 drivers title, and, a team where he has held not one but two separate stints.
But this is a different time and age for the “Iceman” from Finland. Back then, when he claimed his world title in his debut year with the Maranello based stable, a feat that even legends like Prost and Schumacher haven’t attained, he was 27 and at the peak of his youth.
Now, at 36, he has still has got the pace, despite being challenged by friend and teammate Vettel.
How to make a comeback: Raikkonen style
Monosyllabic out of the car, but racing with passion while in it, in the 2 years where Kimi slipped away from the glamour of F1, he did it all.
Taking to the terse and rigorous demands of World Rallying Championship, Raikkonen competed and made news for racing trucks at Nascar. He went skiing, did some snowmobile racing and then surprised the F1 fraternity.
Just when he had been written off by those who prefer shenanigans over class, the light eyed charmer from Espoo announced his return to Formula One. Silently as ever, making headlines for a partnership with Renault, a team none fancied given the prowess of Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes at that point in time, all this despite Renault’s past championships, Kimi was back to where he belongs.
While Vettel’s reign clobbered them all in 2012 and 2013 save for Alonso, who roared alone, it was Raikkonen who gathered the plaudits.
Despite having not sat in F1 car for two whole years, the Iceman’s slicing of his opponents in the 2012 season saw him earn 207 points in his F1 return.
The 7 podium finishes, marked with a commanding win at Abu Dhabi, showed his detractors just what the Iceman was capable of.
Even then, the big words were missing in those punchy press conferences and Raikkonen’s lament at team radio during the final rounds at the Yas Marina circuit said it all: “Leave me alone, I know what am doing”.
While 2013 saw Eric Boullier led outfit not paying a penny to the Finn, Kimi finished 5th on the driver’s standings, despite missing the last two races.
What lies ahead?
Desperate times and desperate measures. These may well be the words in the minds of all those who will be keen to upset the dominant Mercedes show.
That said, fans will wait for Kimi Raikkonen to take his seat in the season opener that begins days from now at Australia.
Who knows what will happen when they roar,” it’s lights out and away we go!”
