Italian GP 2018: 3 learnings from Kimi's epic pole-lap at Monza

He is called the Iceman. Some lovingly call him 'Kimster.' In the past, former Ferrari boss Sergio Marchionne called, perceptibly, in a bid to push Kimi further, 'laggard' and the list of monikers continues unabashed.

While there has been no dearth of critics that Raikkonen himself is blamed to have gathered, following what's often been slow reactionary moves inside the opening laps of races and recalcitrant performances in qualifying- there came a moment at Monza, a few hours ago- where it seemed Raikkonen was far more than the sum of assumptions (and accusations) he's put against.

That Kimi put forward a lap that has gone down in the annals of the sport as being Formula 1's fastest is not the only reason why he's making news today.

Rather, what's the interesting talking point about Kimi Matias Raikkonen, 39, is that amid constant pressure- with there being no end to talks of other younger drivers replacing him for the next year- has the Finnish Iceman delivered a lap that may have rescued a career and further reiterated the fact that there's more to icy-cool Raikkonen than meets the eye.

#1 Raikkonen keeps his promise of driving 'as fast as ever'

F1 Grand Prix of Italy - Qualifying — Raikkonen blasted away his competition to grab pole at Monza

Back in 2004, when Raikkonen was still relatively a newcomer, driving in only his fourth season of Formula 1 as a 24-year-old McLaren driver, there came along Juan Pablo Montoya.

He'd set the fastest-ever lap in the history of the peak of motor-racing, going at the pace of a torpedo, clocking up 1:19:525.

It would be a record that would remain unmoved and unchallenged for 14 years, which is when a certain Iceman would come along and have a go at that.

Perhaps, it won't be incorrect to suggest (regardless of whether his haters or critics admit his prowess) but for the time immemorial, September 1, 2018, will always be remembered for being a date- on which Formula 1's oldest driver oldest driver on the grid managed to beat everyone-including the experienced drivers and the youngest of the lot- to break Montoya's record for delivering the fastest-ever lap.

In taking a cool slice of some record-shattering history, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen left hundreds of thousands of hearts stunned as he went 1:19:119, in grabbing pole at Monza and delivering Formula 1's fastest lap ever.

What was interesting about Kimi's move was that completely unbeknownst to fans and the F1 fraternity, including all 20 men on the grid, Raikkonen duly backed his words in the press conference, wherein upon being asked if he still thinks he's driving as well as ever, the Finn replied, "fast as ever; at least in my books."

#2 Raikkonen, not Finnish'ed' yet

Over the course of the past several seasons, there have been a lot of accusations, some constructively-backed with facts and assessments over Raikkonen's Ferrari form with there being a congruence that Raikkonen's probably past his best and that he does not seem to have in him anymore to fight for top finishes.

And while there cannot be a logical conclusion in that regard, what we do know is that with 8 podiums bagged already this year, taking his overall tally to 99, Raikkonen is doing more than just fighting to live another day; probably, he's silently gnawing at critics and a divisive league of globetrotting fans, some of whom regard he's over while the rest persist with the notion that Raikkonen's still the fastest on the grid.

#3 Raikkonen helps Ferrari clinch their first-pole at Monza since 2010

In many ways, the events that unfurled during the final qualifying run on Saturday signified a landmark moment for Ferrari and its driver in the car no.7, Kimi Raikkonen.

At a track where Ferrari's last pole came way back in time, in 2010, in the form of Alonso

s pole-position, which he'd go on to defend; converting it into a win, Kimi Raikkonen helped Ferrari break a jinx that troubled the Scuderia's woes for 8 long years.

In so doing, the Iceman did prove something to his critics; a breed for whom he's often, "laggard", "flippant," and, even "phlegmatic" that he can still hold on to his own in front of the very best names on the grid.

Whether Raikkonen goes on to convert the pole-position- his first since the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix- would clearly depend as much on his own hands as on the hands of his team, who, in the past, have pushed Vettel ahead of Kimi, following a highly-debated stand of following 'team-orders.'