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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – NOVEMBER 04: Race winner Kimi Raikkonen (left) of Finland and Lotus talks on the podium with third placed Sebastian Vettel (right) of Germany and Red Bull Racing following the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit on November 4, 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
There is no denying that every driver who makes it to F1 comes there because he has one thing in abundance – talent. Only a handful of them go down in history as legends. But there are a few who make F1 more than just a motorsport, more than just about engines, tyres, championships, and glamour. They are the ones who shine through race after race, and make us love them, just by being who they are.
Perhaps Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said it best. He told autosport.com, “I like Kimi. I think he’s good for F1, he’s a character and not afraid to be his own person, and I think that’s why he has an enormous following. I think he’s done a very good job this year. He’s come back, kept himself in the world championship until Abu Dhabi, has finished every single grand prix, raced well, and has been consistent. Formula 1 is, I think, a better place for having Kimi Räikkönen in it.”
And that’s what make Kimi special. He doesn’t pander to the media. Neither does he pander to the fans or his team. Sure, he is there to race. Everyone is. But he does it with an incredible combination of talent, panache and nonchalance. Really, no one can do it better than him.
Top 10 reasons why Kimi Räikkönen is a cool customer who oozes talent:
* The Ice Man was fast asleep 30 minutes before his debut race at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix
* The story goes that Kimi, still a teenager, was racing at Monaco when he was thrown on to the wrong side of the safety fence during a collision on the 1st lap. It didn’t bother him. Instead, he continued driving till there was no more road left to drive on. Then, he picked up his kart, got it back on track and continued racing. He finished 3rd.
* Right before his 2007 debut for Ferrari, Kimi Räikkönen entered and won a snowmobile competition in Finland, something most racers would think twice of doing before the start of a season. He raced under the name James Hunt. He won the Australian Grand Prix a week later.
* In 2009, while with Ferrari, he left the Paddock in splits. The drivers and the teams were huddled in groups, wet and waiting for the race re-start. Kimi Räikkönen stepped out for a chocolate ice cream and Coke.
* Michael Schumacher retired and the Finn joined Ferrari and became one of the highest paid drivers in F1 at that time. His base salary was reportedly worth $51 million annually.
* When asked what he loved about F1, Kimi replied: “Driving is the only thing I love about F1”.
* We all love the helmets the racers wear. They mean something special. But not Kimi. How important is it for you, a journalist asked him. “It protects my head,” the Finn replied. And then. “Do you have any special rituals concerning your helmet like many have?” “I wipe it so that I can see better,” Kimi said.
* He struggled through the 2009 season and decided to call it a day – temporarily. But then, returned in 2012 to five podiums which include 3 at the 2nd place. Then, in Abu Dhabi, he won, ending the season at 3rd in the championship standings.
* The classic Kimi one-liner. It was the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the Finn was in the lead. His engineer radioed how Alonso was doing behind him, adding that he would keep Kimi updated on the Ferrari. The Finn snapped back, “Just leave me alone, I know what I am doing.” Later in November, the Finn sent 500 t-shirts carrying that slogan to the Lotus factory!
* The 2012 season ended with Kimi Räikkönen in the 3rd spot. But, he told autosport,com, “I am here to try to win, and if I finish third or fourth, it doesn’t matter. If you ask someone after five years in F1 and who was second or third, it would be the same…It makes no different. It looks maybe better on paper, but in reality, it doesn’t mean anything.”
