RAIKKONEN’S FINEST DRIVES

2018 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX

By 2018, it appeared that Räikkönen’s race-winning days were long over – but then he took a stunning, skilful win for Ferrari at the Circuit of the Americas, nursing his tyres to make a one-stop strategy work when all his rivals stopped twice. The crowd went wild.

2003 MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX

This was a race of firsts for future champions, as Renault’s Fernando Alonso claimed his maiden pole position before Mclaren’s Räikkönen overhauled his rival during the pit stops to secure his first F1 victory at the age of only 23.

2012 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

Räikkönen inherited the lead after Lewis Hamilton retired, then fended off a charge from Alonso to take the new Lotus team’s first win. The race also spawned an F1 catchphrase, after his team tried to radio him information and was met with: “Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing.”

2009 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX

Ferrari struggled in 2009, but the F60 fared better at the fast Spa circuit. Räikkönen made a strong start, battling up to second, then overhauled Giancarlo Fisichella’s pacesetting Force India on the run to Les Combes. The Italian kept the pressure on, but Räikkönen resisted to take glory.

2005 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX

Rain during the single-lap qualifying sessions meant Räikkönen started 17th at Suzuka, but he charged through the field with a series of stunning moves. He eventually tracked down and passed the leading Renault of Fisichella on the final lap to seal the win.