Kimi Räikkönen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kimi Räikkönen
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Räikkönen in 2019
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| Born |
Kimi-Matias Räikkönen
17 October 1979 Espoo, Finland
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| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 3 | ||||||
| Formula One World Championship career | |||||||
| Nationality |  Finnish |
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| Active years | 2001–2009, 2012–2021 | ||||||
| Teams | Sauber, McLaren, Ferrari, Lotus, Alfa Romeo | ||||||
| Car number | 7 | ||||||
| Entries | 353 (349 starts) | ||||||
| Championships | 1 (2007) | ||||||
| Wins | 21 | ||||||
| Podiums | 103 | ||||||
| Career points | 1873 | ||||||
| Pole positions | 18 | ||||||
| Fastest laps | 46 | ||||||
| First entry | 2001 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||
| First win | 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix | ||||||
| Last win | 2018 United States Grand Prix | ||||||
| Last entry | 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | ||||||
| World Rally Championship record | |||||||
| Active years | 2009–2011 | ||||||
| Co-driver | Kaj Lindström |
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| Teams | Citroën Junior Team, ICE 1 Racing | ||||||
| Rallies | 21 | ||||||
| Championships | 0 | ||||||
| Rally wins | 0 | ||||||
| Podiums | 0 | ||||||
| Stage wins | 1 | ||||||
| Total points | 59 | ||||||
| First rally | 2009 Rally Finland | ||||||
| Last rally | 2011 Wales Rally GB | ||||||
| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 2 races run over 2 years | |||||||
| 2023 position | 40th | ||||||
| Best finish | 40th (2023) | ||||||
| First race | 2022 Go Bowling at The Glen (Watkins Glen) | ||||||
| Last race | 2023 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (COTA) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
| 1 race run over 1 year | |||||||
| 2011 position | 89th | ||||||
| Best finish | 89th (2011) | ||||||
| First race | 2011 Top Gear 300 (Charlotte) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career | |||||||
| 1 race run over 1 year | |||||||
| 2011 position | 81st | ||||||
| Best finish | 81st (2011) | ||||||
| First race | 2011 North Carolina Education Lottery 200 (Charlotte) | ||||||
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| Statistics current as of 11 July 2024. | |||||||
Kimi-Matias Räikkönen (born 17 October 1979) is a famous Finnish racing driver. He is often called "The Iceman" because he stays very calm under pressure. Kimi raced in Formula One from 2001 to 2021. He drove for teams like Sauber, McLaren, Ferrari, Lotus, and Alfa Romeo.
Kimi Räikkönen won the 2007 Formula One World Championship with Ferrari. He is the most successful Finnish Formula One driver. He holds records for many podium finishes and fastest laps. After leaving Formula One, he also competed in rallying and NASCAR.
Kimi Räikkönen's Racing Journey
Early Days in Racing
Kimi Räikkönen was born in Espoo, Finland. He started karting when he was just 10 years old. He quickly became very good at it. When he was 15, he had a memorable race in Monaco. His steering wheel broke, but he kept going! He waved the broken wheel in the air to tell his mechanic. In another Monaco race, he was thrown off the track. But he lifted his kart back on and finished third!
Kimi won the British Formula Renault winter series in 1999. He won four races in a row. In 2000, he won seven out of ten races in the Formula Renault UK Championship. He had a fantastic winning rate of 57% in these races.
Formula One Career (2001–2009)
Starting with Sauber (2001)
Because of his great results, Peter Sauber gave Kimi a test drive for his Sauber Formula One team in 2000. Kimi was super fast, even quicker than the team's regular driver. Sauber signed Kimi for the 2001 season. Some people worried he was too new to racing, but he got his special F1 license. In his very first race, the 2001 Australian Grand Prix, he scored a championship point! It's even said he was asleep 30 minutes before the race.
Kimi had a strong first year. He finished in the points four times. He helped Sauber get their best team result ever, finishing fourth in the Constructors' Championship.
Joining McLaren (2002–2006)
Kimi impressed McLaren so much that he joined them in 2002. He took the place of his hero, Mika Häkkinen. Mika told McLaren's boss, "If you wanna win, get the Finn."
In his first race with McLaren, Kimi finished third. McLaren had many engine problems in 2002. But Kimi still scored 24 points and got on the podium four times. He finished sixth in the championship.
Challenging for the Title (2003)
In 2003, Kimi won his first ever Formula One race in Malaysia. He started seventh and drove brilliantly. He almost won in Brazil, but the win was given to another driver later.
McLaren's car was not always the fastest. But Kimi often finished second or third. He had some bad luck, like an engine failure in Europe while leading. He finished second in the championship, just two points behind Michael Schumacher.
Tough Times and First Win (2004)
The 2004 season was tough for Kimi. His McLaren car had many breakdowns. He only scored one point in the first seven races. But things got better with a new version of the car.
At the British Grand Prix, Kimi took pole position and finished second. He then won McLaren's only race of the season in Belgium. He finished seventh in the championship with 45 points.
Close Calls and Many Wins (2005)
The 2005 season started slowly for Kimi. But then he got three pole positions in a row. He won races in Spain and Monaco. He had bad luck again, with a driveshaft failure in Imola and suspension failure in Europe while leading.
Kimi won the Canadian Grand Prix after his rival made a mistake. He had more engine problems in France and Britain. But he bounced back to win in Hungary and Turkey. He also won in Belgium for the second year in a row.
In Japan, Kimi started 17th but drove amazingly to win on the very last lap. He finished second in the championship with seven wins. He was named "Driver of the Year" by F1 Racing magazine.
Final McLaren Season (2006)
In 2006, Kimi started with a third-place finish in Bahrain. He had a great race in Australia, finishing second. But McLaren was not as strong as Renault.
Kimi had more bad luck with retirements. In Monaco, his car caught fire, and he famously walked straight to his yacht with his helmet still on! He took pole position in Germany and Italy. He finished second in Italy, and after that race, it was announced he would join Ferrari for 2007. Kimi finished fifth in the championship in his last year with McLaren.
Joining Ferrari (2007–2009)
Kimi signed a three-year deal with Ferrari starting in 2007. He was very happy about this big move.
Becoming World Champion (2007)
Kimi started his Ferrari career perfectly. He took pole position, set the fastest lap, and won his first race in Australia. He was the first driver since 1989 to win his first race with Ferrari.
He had some ups and downs during the season. He won in France and Britain. But he retired from the European Grand Prix with a hydraulics problem. Kimi then won his third race in a row at his favorite track, Spa-Francorchamps, in Belgium.
Going into the last race in Brazil, Kimi was third in the championship. He was seven points behind Lewis Hamilton and three points behind Fernando Alonso. It was a very exciting three-way fight for the title. Kimi won the race in Brazil. This meant he won the 2007 Formula One Drivers' title by just one point! He had six wins, more than any other driver that year.
Defending the Title (2008)
Kimi won his first race of the 2008 season in Malaysia. He also won in Spain from pole position. He set the fastest lap in many races.
In Canada, Kimi was hit by Lewis Hamilton in the pitlane, which ended his race. He took pole position in France and finished second. He had some bad luck with retirements and incidents. In Singapore, he crashed while pushing hard.
Kimi finished third in the championship in 2008. He won the DHL Fastest Lap Award for setting the most fastest laps (10) for the second year in a row. This equaled Michael Schumacher's record.
Final Ferrari Season (2009)
The 2009 season was difficult for Ferrari. The car was not as fast as others. Kimi had some tough races early on.
But he started to get better results. He finished third in Monaco and second in Hungary. He then won his first race in 25 races at the Belgian Grand Prix. This was his fourth win at Spa, earning him the nickname "The King of Spa." He finished third in Italy, making it four podiums in a row. Kimi finished sixth in the championship.
Leaving Formula One (2010–2011)
Ferrari announced that Kimi would leave the team at the end of 2009. He was replaced by Fernando Alonso. Kimi's manager confirmed he would not race in Formula One in 2010. Kimi said he only wanted to drive a car that could win.
Return to Formula One (2012–2021)
Lotus F1 Team (2012–2013)
In November 2011, it was announced that Kimi would return to Formula One in 2012. He signed a two-year contract with the Lotus team.
Back on the Podium (2012)
Kimi started his comeback by finishing seventh in Australia. He quickly showed his speed. He finished second in Bahrain and third in Spain. He got on the podium seven times in 2012.
On 4 November 2012, Kimi won his first race for Lotus at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It was a big moment for him and the team. He finished third in the drivers' championship, a great result for his return.
Breaking Records (2013)
Kimi continued with Lotus in 2013. He won the first race of the season in Australia. He used a clever two-stop strategy.
In Monaco, he had a puncture but still managed to score a point. At the British Grand Prix, Kimi broke Michael Schumacher's record. He finished in the points for the 25th consecutive race! This amazing streak reached 27 races before it ended.
Later in the season, it was revealed that Kimi had not been paid by Lotus. This was a big reason he decided to leave. He had back problems and had surgery, missing the last two races of the season.
Return to Ferrari (2014–2018)
On 11 September 2013, Kimi confirmed he would return to Ferrari for 2014. He would race alongside Fernando Alonso. He chose to keep his car number 7.
A Difficult Start (2014)
Kimi had a tough year in 2014. He struggled with the new car and its braking system. His best result was fourth place in Belgium. For the first time since his first year, he did not get on the podium. He finished 12th in the championship.
Finding His Form (2015)
Kimi had some bad luck with pit stops early in 2015. But he got his first podium since 2013 in Bahrain, finishing second. He said the car felt much better.
He had a big crash with Fernando Alonso in Austria, but both drivers were okay. Kimi finished third in Singapore and Abu Dhabi. He ended the season in fourth place in the drivers' championship.
Consistent Performances (2016)
In 2016, Kimi had to retire from the first race due to a fire. But he finished second in Bahrain and third in Russia. He also got another second place in Spain.
Kimi showed much better qualifying speed in 2016. He often out-qualified his teammate, Sebastian Vettel. He finished sixth in the championship.
Pole Position and Podiums (2017)
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Kimi scored his first podium of 2017 in Russia, finishing third. He then took his first pole position in 129 races at the Monaco Grand Prix. He was the oldest driver to get pole since 1997! He finished second in the race.
He had some bad luck with retirements in Spain and Azerbaijan. But he finished on the podium three times in a row at the end of the season. Kimi finished fourth in the drivers' championship.
Winning Again (2018)
Kimi renewed his contract with Ferrari for 2018. He started the season with a third-place finish in Australia. He had a pit stop error in Bahrain that forced him to retire.
Kimi had a great run of five podiums in a row during the middle of the season. He took pole position at the Italian Grand Prix, setting the fastest lap ever recorded in Formula One history! He finished second in that race, which was his 100th podium finish.
Kimi won the United States Grand Prix. This was his first win since 2013, a gap of 113 races! At 39 years old, he became the oldest F1 race winner since 1994. This win also made him the most successful Finnish driver in terms of race wins. He finished third in the drivers' championship in his final season with Ferrari.
Alfa Romeo (2019–2021)
In September 2018, it was announced that Kimi would leave Ferrari to rejoin Sauber, the team he started with in 2001. The Sauber team was renamed Alfa Romeo Racing for 2019.
Kimi had a strong first half of 2019, scoring 31 points. His teammate only scored one point in the same time. The car struggled for pace later in the season. But Kimi finished fourth in Brazil, a great result for the team. He finished 12th in the drivers' championship.
Final Seasons (2020–2021)
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Kimi stayed with Alfa Romeo for 2020. The car was not very fast. He scored points twice, finishing ninth in Tuscany and Emilia Romagna. He broke Rubens Barrichello's record for most Formula One race starts in history. He also won an award for his amazing start at the Portuguese Grand Prix, where he overtook 10 cars!
Kimi continued with Alfa Romeo in 2021. Before the season, he decided to retire at the end of the year. He missed two races after testing positive for COVID-19. He scored points in Azerbaijan, Hungary, Russia, and Mexico. For his final race in Abu Dhabi, his car had a special message: "Dear Kimi, we will leave you alone now." He had to retire from the race due to a technical problem. Kimi finished his last season in 16th place.
Other Racing Adventures
Rallying
Kimi first tried rally racing in 2009. In 2010, he joined the Citroën Junior Team to race full-time in the World Rally Championship. He became only the second driver to score points in both Formula One and the World Rally Championship. He finished eighth in Jordan and fifth in Turkey. He even won a stage in Germany.
In 2011, Kimi raced for his own team, ICE 1 Racing. He finished eighth in Sweden and seventh in Portugal. He scored more points than in 2010, finishing 10th in the championship again.
NASCAR Racing
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In 2011, Kimi decided to try NASCAR. He raced in the Truck Series and the Nationwide Series. He finished 15th in his first Truck Series race in Charlotte.
After retiring from Formula One, Kimi returned to NASCAR in 2022. He made his Cup Series debut at Watkins Glen. He ran in the top ten at one point but crashed out of the race. He returned in 2023 at the Circuit of the Americas. He climbed to fourth place late in the race but finished 29th after some chaotic restarts.
Kimi's Life Outside the Track
Kimi Räikkönen married Finnish model Jenni Dahlman in 2004, but they divorced in 2014. He then married Minna-Mari "Minttu" Virtanen in 2016. They have three children: a son born in 2015, and two daughters born in 2017 and 2023. The family now lives in Como, Italy.
Kimi enjoys snowboarding and ice hockey. He once entered a powerboat race with friends wearing gorilla suits! They even won a prize for the best-dressed crew. In 2008, Finnish postage stamps were released with Kimi's picture to celebrate his F1 World Championship. In 2011, he started his own Motocross World Championship team called Ice 1 Racing.
Kimi is known for being quiet and not liking media interviews. He often gives short, direct answers. His nickname "The Iceman" comes from his calm personality and Finnish background. He once famously told his race engineer, "Just leave me alone, I know what to do!" This quote became very popular.
Kimi's helmet design has changed over the years. It always features a "V" shape and the word "Iceman." His close friends include his former teammates Sebastian Vettel and Antonio Giovinazzi.
Formula One Records and Achievements
Kimi Räikkönen holds several impressive Formula One records:
- Most fastest laps in a season: 10 (achieved in 2005 and 2008)
- Most races between successive wins: 114 races (between 2013 and 2018)
- Most third places: 45
- Most podiums not starting from the front row: 72
- Longest time between successive pole positions: 3,262 days
- Most races between successive pole positions: 168 races
Kimi has also achieved many other great things in Formula One:
- He is the only driver to win in the V10, V8, and V6 turbo hybrid engine eras.
- He is the second driver to win the World Championship after being third in the standings before the final race.
- He is the third Ferrari driver to win the World Championship in their first year with the team.
- He is the third Finnish driver to win the World Championship.
- He is the only driver to win a Grand Prix for Lotus F1.
- As of 2023, Kimi's 2007 title is the most recent World Drivers' Championship win for a Ferrari driver.
- He holds the record for the most wins (6) in a debut year with Ferrari.
Images for kids
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Räikkönen in 2019
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Räikkönen in 2019
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A Sauber C20 car, like the one Räikkönen drove in 2001
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Räikkönen racing for McLaren in 2002
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Räikkönen at the 2003 French Grand Prix
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Räikkönen's McLaren car in the garage during qualifying in 2004
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Räikkönen racing in Canada in 2005
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Räikkönen at the 2005 United States Grand Prix
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Räikkönen testing for McLaren in 2006
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Räikkönen testing for McLaren in 2006
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Räikkönen driving for Ferrari in 2007
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Räikkönen won his third race of 2007 at Silverstone
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Räikkönen at Spa, where he won his fourth race of the year
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Räikkönen celebrating victory and the world title at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix
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Räikkönen winning in Malaysia in 2008
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Räikkönen driving for Ferrari at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix
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Räikkönen at the 2008 Belgian Grand Prix
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Räikkönen testing the Ferrari F60 car in 2009
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Räikkönen at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix
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Räikkönen at the 2009 Italian Grand Prix
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Räikkönen driving for Lotus in 2012
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Räikkönen at the 2012 United States Grand Prix
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Räikkönen at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2013
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Räikkönen at the 2013 Italian Grand Prix
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Räikkönen at the 2014 Singapore Grand Prix
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Räikkönen at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2015
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Räikkönen at the 2015 Italian Grand Prix
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Räikkönen at the 2015 Singapore Grand Prix
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Räikkönen at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2016
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Räikkönen during qualifying in Italy in 2017
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Kimi Räikkönen at the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
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Räikkönen at the Chinese Grand Prix in 2019
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Räikkönen at pre-season testing in 2020
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Räikkönen at the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix
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Räikkönen driving a Citroën C4 WRC in 2010
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Räikkönen at the 2010 Rally Finland
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Räikkönen at the 2011 Rallye Deutschland
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Räikkönen racing in NASCAR in 2023
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Räikkönen at the Circuit of the Americas in 2023
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Helmet used when Räikkönen raced for Ferrari seen at Museo Ferrari
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The insignia that appears on the top of Räikkönen's helmet
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In Spanish: Kimi Räikkönen para niños
