39 Facts About Kimi Räikkönen You Should Know

Kimi Räikkönen was a Finnish Formula 1 driver who drove for several teams including McLaren and Ferrari. He won one World Championship but was considered one of the best drivers of his generation. Kimi was famous for his cold attitude in the sport, making him a unique personality on the grid.

Below, we take a closer look at some interesting facts about the Iceman.

1. When Was Kimi Räikkönen Born?

Kimi Räikkönen was born on October 17, 1979 in Espoo, Finland. Kimi has a brother named Rami, but his family is incredibly private so not much is known about his other relatives. Kimi’s father Matti also did some racing, but the details of his career aren’t clear.

2. Where Did Kimi Räikkönen Go To School?

There is very little information about Kimi Räikkönen’s time spent at school. The Finn had an extremely private life, so these details are scarce. However, Kimi likely went to school in Espoo, a neighborhood in Helsinki where he grew up.

3. What Was Kimi Räikkönen’s Racing Number?

Kimi Räikkönen raced with the number 7 on his car when drivers had the opportunity to choose their own numbers. When asked why he chose the number 7, he said that it was because he ended the season with the number 7 when the rule came in and simply kept the number for the rest of his career.

4. Kimi Räikkönen Height & Weight

Kimi Räikkönen is around 1.75 meters (5’ 9”) tall. This is ideal for Formula 1 where drivers need to be shorter to fit into the cockpit of the car. Kimi weighs around 70 kilograms (154 lbs), which is also about the average weight for Formula 1 drivers.

5. Is Kimi Räikkönen Left Handed?

Kimi Räikkönen is not left handed. When signing autographs, Kimi always uses his right hand. It’s clear that Kimi’s right hand is his preferred hand when looking at photos of him signing autographs.

6. How Many Languages Does Kimi Räikkönen Speak?

As a Finn, Kimi Räikkönen’s main language is Finnish. Kimi is also fluent in English, and some sources say that Kimi is also fluent in Swedish, but this has not been confirmed.

7. When Did Kimi Räikkönen Start Karting?

Kimi Räikkönen started karting in 1987 at the age of 8. However, he did not start competing in races until he was 10 years old. He started racing in the Finnish, Nordic and European championships, where he was incredibly successful.

8. Did Kimi Räikkönen Race In F3?

Kimi Räikkönen did not drive in Formula 3. The Finn raced in British Formula Renault instead, which is a series with cars that are smaller and slower than Formula 3. It’s the natural step to take out of karting before moving on to Formula 3.

9. Did Kimi Räikkönen Race In F2?

Kimi Räikkönen did not race in Formula 2. He only raced in Formula Renault 23 times before signing a deal with Sauber to race in Formula 1. Kimi was one of the most inexperienced drivers on the F1 grid at debut as he skipped Formula 3 and Formula 2 entirely.

10. When Did Kimi Räikkönen Start F1?

Kimi Räikkönen joined the Sauber F1 team in 2001 despite only having 23 races to his name. Following a test session with the team in 2000, Kimi impressed with his instant pace in the car. In 2001, the 21 year old flying Finn was on the starting grid of his first Formula 1 Grand Prix.

11. Why Is Kimi Räikkönen So Popular?

Kimi Räikkönen is extremely popular because of his unique personality. In an age where every driver cares about their image and tries to impress the public and their sponsors, Kimi brought a fresh perspective. He has a “no-care” attitude that is different to most other F1 drivers.

12. Is Kimi Räikkönen A Good Driver?

Kimi Räikkönen is one of the best drivers in the world. Kimi was one of the fastest Formula 1 drivers in his prime, going up against some of the best drivers in the history of the sport including Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton. Kimi had lots of pace, but was rarely in the fastest or most reliable car.

13. Is Kimi Räikkönen Still Good?

Kimi Räikkönen is still an excellent driver. Although he has retired from Formula 1, he was still putting in some incredible performances in his final seasons in the sport. Even at Alfa Romeo he still delivered stunning performances.

14. How Good Was Kimi Räikkönen In His Prime?

During his prime McLaren years, Kimi Räikkönen was nicknamed “Schumacher’s nightmare.” Kimi was known for having great pace on track, and for being one of the fastest drivers of his generation. He battled and won against Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in his prime.

15. Did Kimi Räikkönen Drive For Red Bull?

Kimi Räikkönen did not drive for Red Bull in Formula 1. However, you may have seen Kimi in Red Bull gear before. The Finn took a sabbatical from Formula 1 to drive rally cars in 2010. During this time, he had a Red Bull sponsorship and was often seen in Red Bull gear.

16. Why Did Kimi Räikkönen Leave Ferrari In 2009?

Kimi Räikkönen was initially contracted to race in the 2010 season. It’s still unclear as to the exact reason why he parted ways with Ferrari to pursue rallying. However, shortly after Kimi left, Fernando Alonso was hired by Ferrari, along with a brand new sponsorship deal with Santander.

17. Why Did Kimi Räikkönen Leave Lotus?

Kimi Räikkönen stated in an interview that he left Lotus because he was not paid his salary. He had a clause in his contract where he would be paid for every point scored. The clause nearly bankrupted the Lotus team as he performed so well. Kimi then left Lotus to rejoin Ferrari in 2014.

18. Does Lotus Still Owe Kimi Räikkönen Money?

Most information about the Lotus situation is outdated. This means that it’s unclear whether Lotus still owes Kimi Räikkönen money. However, Lotus did state that Kimi will be paid all the money he is owed, despite the Finn’s success costing them millions of dollars.

19. Why Did Ferrari Drop Kimi Räikkönen In 2018?

Kimi Räikkönen’s Ferrari career came to an end in 2018 when the team decided that they would not renew their contract with him. Ferrari was focused on the future, which meant investing in a young up and coming driver, which was Charles Leclerc. Kimi went the other way to Alfa Romeo.

20. Why Did Kimi Räikkönen Join Alfa Romeo?

Kimi Räikkönen joined Alfa Romeo to help the team with his experience. He was out of contract with Ferrari, and there was no chance of racing with the Italian outfit again. He moved to Alfa Romeo to continue racing where his career started (as Sauber) and help to develop their car.

21. Does Kimi Räikkönen Own Sauber?

Kimi Räikkönen does not own Sauber. However, there were rumors of Kimi taking part-ownership of the team after the 2019 season. It’s unclear as to whether Kimi did become part-owner, but he is not currently involved with Sauber which would suggest that these rumors are false.

22. When Was Kimi Räikkönen’s Last Podium?

Kimi Räikkönen’s last podium was at the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix where he finished in third place. This was the 103rd podium of his career, and also his final podium for Ferrari. Kimi moved to Alfa Romeo in the following season and remained in the midfield before retiring from the sport.

23. How Many Races Did Kimi Räikkönen Win?

Kimi Räikkönen won 21 races during his Formula 1 career. With 349 Grands Prix under his belt, that gives him a win percentage of 6%. He is 16th on the list of most wins by a Formula 1 driver, just one position above his compatriot Mika Hakkinen and one win behind Damon Hill.

24. How Many Championships Did Kimi Räikkönen Win?

Kimi Räikkönen only won one World Championship. Kimi won his championship in 2007 with Ferrari. He was often in the fight for the title but suffered from bad luck in seasons like 2003 and 2005. Kimi could easily have won more championships if not for some unfortunate events.

25. How Long Was Kimi Räikkönen In F1?

Kimi Räikkönen spent 19 seasons in Formula 1. He raced in a total of 349 Grand Prix during that time. Kimi spent two seasons out of the sport on a sabbatical, when he was driving rally cars. He left the sport in 2009 and returned in 2012.

26. Why Did Kimi Räikkönen Leave F1?

Kimi Räikkönen left Formula 1 to pursue his passion for rally driving. It’s unclear whether the Finn was forced out of Ferrari in 2010 or if he left by choice. However, he spent two seasons out of the sport before returning with the Lotus team in 2012.

27. When Did Kimi Räikkönen Retire?

Kimi Räikkönen retired from F1 at the end of the 2021 season, 20 years after his debut in the sport. In his final race, he was voted as “Driver of the Day” by fans despite retiring from the race with mechanical issues. Kimi left the sport looking forward to “living a normal life” with his family.

28. When Was Kimi Räikkönen’s First NASCAR Race?

Kimi Räikkönen’s first NASCAR race was in 2011 during his sabbatical from Formula 1. Kimi raced in the Camping World Truck Series and the Nationwide Series. Kimi also made appearances in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2022 and 2023.

29. What Is Kimi Räikkönen’s Net Worth?

Kimi Räikkönen has an estimated net worth of around $250 million. This wealth comes from his time spent in Formula 1, earning a hefty salary, money from sponsorships, and several investments. At Lotus, Kimi made $20 million on World Championship points alone ($50,000 per point).

30. What Does Kimi Räikkönen Drive?

Kimi Räikkönen loves cars, and he has an impressive car collection, including a Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari 488 Pista, Rolls Royce Wraith, and a Lotus Evora S. Some cars, such as the Ferrari Enzo, were gifted to Kimi by his teams during his Formula 1 career.

31. Why Is Kimi Räikkönen Called The Iceman?

Kimi Räikkönen is known as The Iceman because of his cool, calm, and collected persona. The origin of the nickname dates back to his McLaren days when he was known for his laidback and cool personality. He was also calm under pressure when out on track.

32. Is Kimi Räikkönen A Legend?

Kimi Räikkönen is a legend of the sport that will always be remembered. He is widely known for his unique personality. Kimi was always calm and quiet but was also known for being a party-goer away from the track. On the track, he was a fierce driver known for being incredibly fast but also very fair.

33. Is Kimi Räikkönen Racing In 2023?

Kimi Räikkönen is racing the occasional event in 2023, such as at the NASCAR COTA race. Kimi is spending time with his family after retiring from Formula 1. He has been racing karts at his local track, training his son Robin and helping with his own motorsport journey. Kimi does not race the karts but drives with his son on track.

34. Is Kimi Räikkönen Coming Back To F1?

Kimi Räikkönen will not be coming back to Formula 1. Kimi spent 20 years in the sport and he retired to live more of a normal life. Kimi is also too old to return to Formula 1 as he might start to struggle with the fitness levels required (although Fernando Alonso is showing that drivers can still race competitively into their 40s).

35. Why Do People Love Kimi Räikkönen?

People love Kimi Räikkönen because he was such a unique personality on the Formula 1 grid. While other drivers try hard to impress with their image, Kimi is laidback and has a carefree attitude, which has provided fans with plenty of comedic moments over the years.

36. Kimi Räikkönen vs Sebastian Vettel

Kimi Räikkönen was teammates with Sebastian Vettel from 2015-2018. The two joined forces at Ferrari, but Vettel beat Kimi in every season that they were teammates together. Kimi did beat Vettel in some races, but by the end of the season Vettel would have more points than Kimi.

37. Kimi Räikkönen vs Fernando Alonso

Kimi Räikkönen and Fernando Alonso were only teammates for one season at Ferrari. Alonso beat Räikkönen in points during the 2014 season. Kimi has more podiums than Alonso throughout their careers, but Alonso has more wins and pole positions (and he’s catching up on podiums too).

38. Kimi Räikkönen vs Mika Häkkinen

Kimi Räikkönen and Mika Hakkinen never raced together at the same time, which makes it incredibly difficult to compare the two drivers. Kimi has more points and race wins than Hakkinen, but Kimi only has one World Championship compared to Hakkinen’s two.

39. Kimi Räikkönen vs Lewis Hamilton

Kimi Räikkönen and Lewis Hamilton were fierce rivals in the late 2000s. Kimi beat Hamilton to the championship in 2007, but after that Hamilton beat Kimi in every other way. Hamilton has more wins, points, pole positions, and World Championships than Räikkönen.

Final Thoughts

Kimi Räikkönen had one of the most unique personalities in Formula 1, known for being cool under pressure, earning his Iceman nickname. He was also incredibly fast, and this made him a force to be reckoned with, and his single World Championship serves as an understatement for his incredible racing talent.