Raikkonen’s funniest moments as 2007 F1 champion announces retirement | F1 | Sports

Kimi Raikkonen will leave Formula 1 at the end of the current season, ending a long and successful career spanning three decades. The Iceman impressed with its speed on the track and will be remembered for its razor-sharp wit.

Long one of the greatest characters in the sport, the Finn is not afraid to express a bold opinion or joke, and is known for his aversion to media interviews.

His blunt and often monotonous speaking style has spawned some hilarious quotes over the years – as has his penchant for some quirky acts.

One such moment came at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2006 when he responded to his forced break due to a mechanical problem by strolling on his yacht and soaking in his hot tub – while still wearing his racing suit.

That was during his sixth season in Formula 1, so you’d think his experience and reputation in the sport gave him the audacity to do this stunt.

But the truth is, he was always so relaxed. He was found by a Sauber engineer taking a nap just 30 minutes before his F1 arc in 2001 before reluctantly getting up to get into his car, finishing sixth, and scoring points on the debut.

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“Just leave me alone, I know what to do,” Raikkonen barked over the team radio. It was a moment that sparked a lot of media coverage and even inspired t-shirts with the quote printed on them.

Other popular wisdom from Kimi is his apparent disdain for politics in his sport (“Driving is the only thing I love about Formula One”) and his brief answer to a question about the special importance of his helmet (“It protects my head “).

That’s not to say that all of these weird and wonderful moments went by the wayside at the expense of his influence. At the wheel of an F1 car – or any other vehicle – Kimi Raikkonen was in his element doing what he loved most. Driving and racing.

He can look back on 21 racing victories in Formula 1 as well as a world championship title in 2007 when he was ahead by a nose McLaren Duo Alonso and Lewis Hamilton about the title, although it is in an unexpected state Ferrari.

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His last few years in the sport have not seen much success, although this is more due to the lack of competitiveness of the Alfa Romeo, which he has driven since 2019, rather than a noticeable decline in its capabilities.

That moment has come. Raikkonen previously said in the Netflix documentary Drive to Survive: “[Racing in F1] it’s more of a hobby for me, so of course I don’t have to do it if I don’t want to. “

With his contract expiring at the end of the current season and his 42nd birthday in October, the Finn has made a clear decision that it is now time to pursue other interests.

It gives younger drivers the opportunity to compete in F1, but whoever replaces them will leave a huge void in the sport – in talent, yes, but also in personality.