Kimi Raikkonen remains the last Ferrari driver to claim a Formula 1 world championship title, securing the crown in dramatic fashion by narrowly defeating Lewis Hamilton in 2007.
The Finnish driver emerged as one of the brightest talents of the early 2000s. After debuting with Sauber in 2001, Kimi Raikkonen moved to McLaren in 2002, where he quickly established himself as a serious title contender. In 2003, he came tantalizingly close to dethroning Michael Schumacher, only to fall short. Two years later, in 2005, Kimi Raikkonen’s spectacular performances, including a now-iconic overtake in Japan, showcased his brilliance, but the championship slipped away to Fernando Alonso.
A difficult 2006 season with a struggling McLaren team prompted the Finnish driver to make a pivotal career move. He replaced Michael Schumacher at Ferrari in 2007, and although it seemed Hamilton was destined to take the title in his debut season, Kimi Raikkonen staged one of F1’s most remarkable comebacks, clinching the championship by a single point—his only career title.
The following years, however, were less triumphant. In 2008, Kimi Raikkonen’s defense of his title faltered, as Lewis Hamilton narrowly beat his Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa to the championship. Kimi Raikkonen’s performance in 2009 was hindered by underwhelming machinery, and despite flashes of brilliance, his time at Ferrari ended abruptly at the close of the season.
Kimi Raikkonen’s abrupt departure from Ferrari left him disillusioned with F1
Raikkonen had originally signed a three-year contract with Ferrari in 2007, with the intention of racing through the 2010 season. However, the team opted to replace him with Alonso for 2010, prompting Raikkonen to part ways with Ferrari earlier than anticipated.
The 2009 Formula 1 season marked a turbulent period for the sport, as sweeping regulation changes reshaped the competitive landscape. Ferrari struggled to adapt, allowing teams like Brawn GP and Red Bull to seize the advantage. Although Kimi Raikkonen demonstrated strong form in the latter half of the season, his sixth-place finish in the championship standings fell short of expectations.
Following his departure from Ferrari, the Finnish driver was rumored to be in talks with several teams, including McLaren, Mercedes, and Toyota—though Toyota’s subsequent withdrawal from F1 dashed any potential deal. Ultimately, no agreement came to fruition, and Kimi Raikkonen stepped away from Formula 1 entirely. Reflecting on this period during a 2019 episode of the *Beyond The Grid* podcast, Kimi Raikkonen admitted he was “very happy” to leave the sport, revealing that by the end of 2009, he had “zero interest” in Formula 1.
When asked if he missed racing after his departure from Ferrari, he admitted that he initially felt no longing for it at all, emphasizing he was “absolutely” content with leaving. He explained that while he could have signed a new contract, it made no sense to him as he had “zero interest” in remaining in the sport. Reflecting on the situation, he expressed satisfaction with his decision to step away, citing the politics and other issues in Formula 1 as factors that reinforced his happiness to leave. Although his contract was paid out, he reiterated that he had no desire to join another team and was genuinely pleased with his departure.
Lewis Hamilton admitted he was puzzled when Kimi Raikkonen made his second exit from Ferrari at the end of the 2018 season.
Following his first departure from Ferrari in 2009, Raikkonen ventured into the World Rally Championship before making a triumphant return to Formula 1 with Lotus Renault in 2012. The Finn wasted no time proving he still had the skills to compete at the highest level, securing two race victories and 15 podium finishes during his two seasons with the Enstone-based team. His comeback campaign in 2012 was particularly impressive, as he finished third in the drivers’ standings.
In 2014, after Felipe Massa’s move to Williams, the Finnish driver rejoined Ferrari, where he would remain for five seasons. Despite the dominance of Mercedes during this period, Raikkonen delivered consistent performances, collecting regular podium finishes. His crowning achievement during this stint came at the 2018 United States Grand Prix, where he claimed his final F1 victory. However, at the end of that season, Raikkonen chose to leave Ferrari and returned to Sauber—by then operating as Alfa Romeo.
Lewis Hamilton, reflecting on Ferrari’s decision to part ways with Kimi Raikkonen, voiced his surprise and called the Finn one of his “favorite drivers.” The seven-time world champion appeared to believe that Ferrari might have underestimated the value Raikkonen brought to the team, both on and off the track.
Kimi Raikkonen spent three seasons with Alfa Romeo before retiring from Formula 1 in 2021, bringing an end to a storied career. As the 2025 season looms, Hamilton finds himself at Ferrari, determined to break their 18-year championship drought and secure his place in the team’s rich history.
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