Räikkönen offered ice creams to journalists in Malaysia

Coming from the trio of Nordic countries Norway-Sweden-Finland in motorsport, and sports in general, seems to predispose commentators to use terms reflecting a somewhat outdated conception of the inhabitants of Nordic countries: composure, imperturbability, aloofness, coldness… were, for example, terms often used to describe the performances, but more broadly the personality, of a certain Mika Hakkinen, two-time Formula 1 world champion in 1998 and 1999.

But when, upon returning to the pinnacle discipline after two years away from the circuits, one of the many images the F1 world retains of you is that of a driver who, tired of waiting for the impossible resumption of a Malaysian race halted by torrential rain, wanders through the pits in shorts and a cap with a soda can and an ice cream in hand, it must be acknowledged that you do nothing to break it—not the ice cream, the image. Especially since your nickname is indeed “Iceman.”

Yet it was on this image, both comical and revealing of his state of mind at this point in his life, that the 2007 world champion played during the weekend in Malaysia. In fact, shortly before the start of the race, ice creams were delivered to all the journalists present in the press room at the Sepang circuit, accompanied by a note from the Finn politely asking them to enjoy the ice cream. A proof, if one were really needed, that men from the North are not so cold…