There have been so many greats in F1 like Schumi, Senna, Prost, Fangio, Brabham and others. All of them had a distinctive character that separated them from the rest but nearly all of them courted controversy regularly. Even Alonso, Hamilton and the current pack of drivers have also had their brush with controversy. Amidst all this one man stood out - Kimi Räikkönen. Known as the Iceman for his cool composure pre, during and post the race.
Kimi made his debut for Sauber in 2001, though the FIA was against giving him a super license to drive a F1 car due to his inexperience. Kimi scored his first points in the season opener in Australia and as per sources Kimi was still asleep 30 minutes before the race.
Kimi was always seen as the guy with a "no attitude problem". Never spoke to much, never laughed a lot, never let him emotions get the better of him, and let his driving do the talking.
It's been about 10 years since Ive been watching F1, there has never been a driver with the class that Kimi showed. He starts 17th and finish on top of the podium in a McLaren that wasn't reliable in 2005. While growing up, all i saw him was in the silver overalls of the Mclaren where he missed being World Driver Champion because of an unreliable Mclaren in 2003 and 2005. No other driver other than Kimi suffered shunts, suspension failures, engine break down all in the final laps of a grand prix. His move to Ferrari was probably best for his because he won his first WDC after a great season of some great driving.
There are many moments in F1 which Kimi will be remembered for. His final lap overtake of Fisichella, his 4 victores at spa earned him - The King of Spa, Eating an ice cream wearing shorts and flip flops in the pit garage when all the others were sitting on a wet Malaysian track waiting for a restart, promising to drink the champagne rather than spray and waste it, the innumerable heart breaks at the dying moments of the race - Spa will be one of the many, driving through a wall of fire, driving through a wall of smoke with no visibility and flat out at Monza, winning the last two races in a row in 2007 to secure his first and only WDC, driving an unsuitable Ferrari to victory in SPA in 2009 after they had already started work on the 2010 car.
But he is famously remembered for The Brazilian Grand Prix quote which was the final race of the 2006 F1 season and also Michael Schumacher's last ever race. The most successful driver in F1 history was presented a trophy from the legendary Pele. When asked by Martin Brundle why he wasn't at the presentation, Kimi Räikkönen replied (On live TV) "I was taking a shit!"
After being one of the best drivers, Ferrari cut his contract short to bring Alonso and Santander into the team, he could not land a deal in 2010, and has since then moved to WRC, doing a pretty decent job as a rookie and will be staying there for another season.
Given the current crop of drivers who are individualistic, though talk about team spirit a guy like Kimi Matias Räikkönen is sorely missed in the paddock. While the drivers heave a sigh of relief, the fans are one who lose out.
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