Kimi Räikkönen will retire at the end of 2021 [split]

I could have gone without these Alfa Romeo years to be honest.

Edit. I don't want to sound too negative, I still really like Kimi and of course his career is legendary. Also, no Ferrari champion on the grid next year... Who knows how long his legacy will last?

Edited by Topsu, 01 September 2021 - 17:58.

I could have gone without these Alfa Romeo years to be honest.

Just the other day was remarking to someone that Kimi racing at 40 is something I would never have put my money on twenty years ago..

An exceptional talent. Admired his speed from the other side of the fence as an MS fan, then as a neutral. Quite the character. Arrivederci, Iceman. 

Sad to see him go, but it was time.

So it wasn't his decision afterall as I've predicted. Sad, but for sure it was time. 

It is a thin line between being cool and being rude or just an ill mannered churl. The Kimster crossed it more than once. Often enough I didn't find him funny at all.

But Kimi in his prime, say until 2007, was one of the most impressive drivers in F1. He should be remembered for his races in McLaren, his WDC, his pass on Fisichella in Suzuka and things like these - and not for having a ****.

Edited by H0R, 01 September 2021 - 17:29.

An absolute legend whose arrival to F1 got me to follow F1 back in 2001. So many great memories over the years. Thank you Iceman.

Gutted. He had some incredible drives last year, but some sloppy moves and mistakes this year.

Sad day for F1 to lose such a character and generation icon. One of the last remaining that raced Schumacher in his prime too, a real changing of the guard clean sweep.

Wonder if a few rogue Indy appearances beckon? Just to see his milk request would be amusing enough. Grosjean is on fire over there at the moment.

Thanks for the memories Kimi.

Bwoah.

https://youtu.be/835O98ei3-Y

https://youtu.be/835O98ei3-Y

Edited by danmills, 01 September 2021 - 17:39.

Sad to see him go because he is my favourite driver ever but he had to leave eventually and its the right time to go.

He was a really exciting driver during his peak and I wish he was able to achieve more success in the sport but at least he is able to leave the sport with many amazing drives over the years, particularly Suzuka 2005.

It is a shame he lost that form over the past 7 years. I think Bahrain 2015 was the last time I saw Kimi at his best when he was the fastest guy on track. Nonetheless it has been great to support him over the years and I hope he continues to race in other series!

Somehow I read that paragraph that Kimi wrote hearing the Weichai Power speaking cadence.

You will finally have the drink, Kimi

Thanks for all the memories!

Kimi-Matias Räikkönen. I don’t really remember the time when I was not a fan of his. I was 9 years old and in 2^nd grade when he started driving in F1. I was too young to remember Häkkinen’s back-to-back championships in ’98 & ’99 but I still remember that Formula 1 mania was still strong in Finland in 2001. I think everything about his career has been said already. The debut year at Sauber when he got the drive out of nowhere. Those bittersweet McLaren years when he was at his peak and finally the championship in 2007 at Ferrari.

As the man once said, everything after the WDC is a bonus. Well, that bonus lasted almost 15 years and got him another 6 GP wins.

When you follow one driver over 20 years you start to care about that driver and even though today’s news were expected, it still “hurts”. I have an empty feeling right now, but I am more than grateful that I got to witness this amazing career with all its highs and lows. There sure were plenty of them both! I don’t really have anything else to say than thank you. It was a blast!

Kiitos Kimi!

Definitely for the best. I am amazed that his career has gone on for so long given that his prime was over 13 seasons ago. That is a little unusual for any driver. The less said about his second Ferrari stint the better.

But I remember his early seasons in the McLaren with particular fondness. I really rooted for him back then. He deserves his title and should have had at least one more.

I could have gone without these Alfa Romeo years to be honest.

I think it was very cool, and kind of typical I guess, of him to go from a top to a bottom team without any fuss. He always appeared to me as someone who drove for his own pleasure and did not care much about pride, perception and principles.

No Valentino, no Kimi next season. Both born 1979. Both more than 20 years in the top class of their respective vehicle. Will feel a bit empty after all these years.

Not often that you see a driver make it to the very top and love competing enough to keep going for as long as he has even when there is little prospect of fighting for much more than scraps.  

It's a shame the new rules were pushed back a year, could have been fun to see his final season be in the next gen of ruleset.

As it is, I think it is the time for him to go, i've been a big fan ever since the beginning, some times have been tougher of late, happy he finally got that last win for Ferrari.

But the McLaren years will always be my main memory of him, even more so than the title winning year, on the Michelin tyres he was an absolute monster.

I'll admit, I did shed a tear at the end of Austin, 2018.  Wonder if he could go back to Kyle Busch's team? :-)

Edited by aray, 01 September 2021 - 17:51.

Also have to say, I wouldn't have believed you if you told me in 2009 that Kimi would be in F1 for 20 years and become the most experienced driver of all time particularly as it looked like he was done with F1 after he left Ferrari. It seemed like every week we kept hearing that he would retire early like Hakkinen and all the demotivated nonsense. After another decade of racing plus going to a midfield team, I think we can finally put that to rest!

I know this will not be the popular opinion, but IMO he's the most overrated driver of all time. Shouldn't have returned after the first retirement. But he was "cool" and didn't talk much and ate ice cream, so that's why people liked him. That's the very reason i didn't like him. He was a top level sportsman, he should have behaved as such and put in a little more effort. He got the 2007 title very lucky and the fact he couldn't defend it in 2008 against very clumsy opposition was just pathetic

Didn't take too long for someone to have a bad take.

Not liking him because others found him 'cool' is a bit silly, cool or not theres no doubt he was a bit old school.

2007 he won the most races across the season, after 2003 and 2005 it was only fair that he became at least a one time world champion.

2008 was a weird year, but alas we've seen Rosberg walk away after winning his only title, wonder how perception would have been about Raikkonen had he done the same.

Thanks Kimi and good luck for the future, you have been a breath of fresh air for many years in a sport that lives by PR. Can't imagine we will ever see anyone like you again. 

Been a huge fan of Kimi since his first race, so it's definitely sad for me to know that he's leaving the sport. That said though, it's definitely time. It's basically been Alfa Romeo or retirement for him for a few years, and the Alfa cars just aren't good enough to showcase what talent he still has left and he's more or less invisible most race weekends because of it. I'm glad that Kimi's able to leave F1 on his own terms instead of being forced out or left without a drive.

Outside of family life that will come first for him I'm sure, I'm hoping he finds plenty of stuff to enjoy on four wheels after he hangs up his helmet at the end of the year.

Edited by UPRC, 01 September 2021 - 17:57.

I could have gone without these Alfa Romeo years to be honest.

I think he needed them to repair his legacy a little bit. Now it seems like ages ago, but his performance at Ferrari left much to be desired, it would've been sad if his last years were those with him getting thrashed by Vettel or Alonso. These last years have proven that even if he didn't have it anymore for a top team, he could still be able to show flashes of his talent in the midfield. His start last year in Portimão was very impressive, and as mentioned 2019 in general was also very good, there's nothing much he could've done with that car.

Now I think it was definitely time, even with new cars it seems like age is really getting to him. If Alfa decides to sack Gio as well maybe it would've made sense to keep Kimi as a mentor figure for the new guy, but at this point there are better drivers to fullfil that role.

As for his career overall, it's a shame his prime didn't last longer. From 2003 to 2006 he could've and should've gotten a few more titles. With Ferrari he got the title but he never really lived up to expectations, leading to him getting sidelined in favor of Fernando at Maranello. He came back in full force with Lotus, but I've always felt that car was capable of so much more.

Outside of the track, without a doubt one of the most charismatic F1 drivers ever. I also think he crossed the lines a few times between being funny and rude or unpleasant, but overall I wish there were more characters like that on F1. He will be missed.

Thank you Kimi!

I'm very sad 

I don't know what to say...

Wait one thing. Screw Alfa and Ferrari. That pisses me off. No style 

Edited by sheSgoTthElooK, 01 September 2021 - 18:01.

Not often that you see a driver make it to the very top and love competing enough to keep going for as long as he has even when there is little prospect of fighting for much more than scraps.  

For some racing is it's own reward.

Gotta say: about time.

But still, thanks for the memories. At his prime, some 15 years ago, he was a generational talent. The 'second part' of his career wasn't as impressive but still hats off to be able to keep going until well over his 40's.

Edited by Piif, 01 September 2021 - 18:03.

Awwww. I know it was long overdue but it's still sad to think of F1 without Kimi.

Thank you Kimi for the memories and wishing you a very happy retirement!

Edited by tom, 01 September 2021 - 18:13.

I will Kimi...it was always fun to watch him and see what he would or wouldn't say next...

About time! Bloody job-blocker!   

His stint with McLaren was just eye-popping. I thought we were in for a decade of fierce Raikkonen vs Alonso showdowns, but alas....

IndyCar?

I could maybe start watching that series then 

I could have gone without these Alfa Romeo years to be honest.

 

Edit. I don't want to sound too negative, I still really like Kimi and of course his career is legendary. Also, no Ferrari champion on the grid next year... Who knows how long his legacy will last?

But its not about you.

Seems like the right time to bow out, to me his decline has been quite noticable this season. Not that it should come as a surprise, he's the second oldest F1 driver in more than 30 years with just Michael Schumacher having gone on longer. Even if you go back 50 years, there's only half a dozen drivers older than Kimi, quite an achievement for someone who was supposedly never really motivated to be in F1.

Will be interesting what he does next, I'm expecting he'll continue to be involved in motorsport in some way, but he's probably just as likely to disappear from the public completely.

2008 was a weird year, but alas we've seen Rosberg walk away after winning his only title, wonder how perception would have been about Raikkonen had he done the same.

I think it would've been far more favourable. Without the faiulre to dominate Massa in 2008/2009 (and getting dominated by Alonso and Vettel at Ferrari after his return) he would've been seen as one of the all-time greats by many. His reputation in 2005-2007 was very high, many would have named him as the fastest driver on the grid at the time. Retiring early would've added additional dimention to the perception of his career. I'm sure many would argue that he would've won the WDC in 2008. He would've been seen as "could have been a many-times WDC if he cared". I guess there would be some kind of myth/legend aura around him as one of the most enigmatic and talented drivers ever. 

Even while being in F1 and performing at a pretty average (as for a former WDC) level, he still had numerous fans arguing that he still has it and does a better job than many give him credit for. I can only imagine what would those fans write if Raikkonen hasn't been "verified" by his confrontations with Massa, Alonso and Vettel. I'm sure the imaginations of "what could've been" would be generally more favourable to Kimi than what's actually happened in the 2008-2021 period.

He was awesome in his McLaren years, but he never recovered that form, not even the year he won the title.

I also think his children helped him sweeten his character (of course, only a personal impression).

Bwoah.Not much to say though, he was long enough there at the circus and in the spot, earned good fortune so on to whatever comes next.

I'll miss him. Then again, I missed the driver he was since quite a few years already.

Hope he'll find something to fill the void.