Most Successful F1 Drivers at the Abu Dhabi GP

Valtteri Bottas won his first race in Abu Dhabi last year
Valtteri Bottas won his first race in Abu Dhabi last year

Kimi Raikkonen 2012

The Iceman stayed cool to win for the first time since his F1 comeback six years ago.
The Iceman stayed cool to win for the first time since his F1 comeback six years ago.

Kimi Raikkonen had a Ferrari-induced two-year hiatus from Grand Prix racing in 2010 and 2011, but the 2007 World Champion returned for Formula 1 for 2012. The Iceman was back and had an outside shot of the title, as he regularly dragged his average Lotus car up the grid to score podium finishes. However - much as it has during his return to Ferrari - the win had alluded him.

Yas Marina, though, a track that Raikkonen personally described using a four-letter word beginning with s (use your imagination) would be the site of the first win of his return. 4th place on the grid quickly became second after the Finn passed both Mark Webber and Pastor Maldonado off the line and only Lewis Hamilton was ahead of him after the first corner. Hamilton had a comfortable lead but suffered another mechanical failure after 18 Laps, promoting Kimi to the first position.

Fernando Alonso pressured Raikkonen for the remainder of the race, the Spaniard desperate to win and take his championship lead back but the Iceman stayed cool to the finish to claim his 19th win in the sport. Leave him alone, he knows what he's doing.

Quick Links

App download animated image Get the free App now