- 2,215
- Isle of Wight, UK
Kimi is THE F1 driver, to me. I watched F1 from my infancy in the mid 90s but Kimi was the first driver I liked and identified on my own terms. It's wild to think he only has the one title to his name, tho I feel in the eyes of fans his legacy surely equals a good number of the multiple champions.
Kimi's career can teach us all that conventions and traditions are made to be shattered, as the unheralded Finn seemed to do everything his own way, on and off the track. His casual demeanour never came off as forced, but as if he genuinely struggles to make a big deal out of things that simply aren't, despite any amount of media fire stoking. He never seems to have lost his perspective on the great fortune he's had to drive in F1, and has always shown his appreciation for it, where others get wrapped up in the race to race frustrations of the circus.
In the car, Kimi always seemed to get results by sheer determination. He has never struck as the perfect teammate, with drivers or engineers, but I'm certain you'll find no one who ever doubted the effort he put in every time he sat in the car. He has always raced, and not simply driven.
In his later years Kimi has been embraced by the internet and younger fans as the meme machine of F1, but this did absolutely nothing to cheapen his value to the sport and his legendary prowess as a competitor. I am not sure we will ever see someone again who so beautifully straddles the line between entertainment and competition as Raikkonen has.
I, personally, will always remember Kimi's McLarens, which bore him the great McL bad luck pretty consistently thru his time with us, but there seemed to be no end to the times Kimi would produce something magical, whether in Q or the race. In a time for the sport that involved a lot of gritted teeth and Michael winning, Kimi always kept things interesting.
I'm glad that he goes out as experienced and respected as he deserves to be. I am fairly sure for a long time to come if someone asks me what an F1 driver should be like, I'll be giving a detailed description of Kimi Raikkonen, the last (sorry Valtteri) of the true Flying Finns.
Kimi's career can teach us all that conventions and traditions are made to be shattered, as the unheralded Finn seemed to do everything his own way, on and off the track. His casual demeanour never came off as forced, but as if he genuinely struggles to make a big deal out of things that simply aren't, despite any amount of media fire stoking. He never seems to have lost his perspective on the great fortune he's had to drive in F1, and has always shown his appreciation for it, where others get wrapped up in the race to race frustrations of the circus.
In the car, Kimi always seemed to get results by sheer determination. He has never struck as the perfect teammate, with drivers or engineers, but I'm certain you'll find no one who ever doubted the effort he put in every time he sat in the car. He has always raced, and not simply driven.
In his later years Kimi has been embraced by the internet and younger fans as the meme machine of F1, but this did absolutely nothing to cheapen his value to the sport and his legendary prowess as a competitor. I am not sure we will ever see someone again who so beautifully straddles the line between entertainment and competition as Raikkonen has.
I, personally, will always remember Kimi's McLarens, which bore him the great McL bad luck pretty consistently thru his time with us, but there seemed to be no end to the times Kimi would produce something magical, whether in Q or the race. In a time for the sport that involved a lot of gritted teeth and Michael winning, Kimi always kept things interesting.
I'm glad that he goes out as experienced and respected as he deserves to be. I am fairly sure for a long time to come if someone asks me what an F1 driver should be like, I'll be giving a detailed description of Kimi Raikkonen, the last (sorry Valtteri) of the true Flying Finns.
, walking onto a boat, having some drinks at the awards event, and his win at Japan in 2005! Yes he gave us a lot of funny memories, but it is almost disrespectful to omit his racing. Just my 2 cents before people think I'm triggered and on a rant! 😅
