The drivers pay tribute to Kimi Räikkönen’s career
Before the Zandvoort Grand Prix, F1 drivers paid tribute to Kimi Räikkönen's career in front of the press.
At the end of the season, Kimi Räikkönen will leave Formula 1 after 19 seasons. During the Dutch Grand Prix, the other drivers in the paddock took the opportunity to pay tribute to the Finnish driver’s career. The terms “legend”, “unique”, and “incredible talent” are most often used in their remarks.
Starting with Lewis Hamilton. The British driver admits that he used to play as Kimi in video games when he was younger. Racing against him was a great opportunity.
I remember that before arriving in F1, in video games, I was always in Kimi’s car. So I had this crazy experience of racing against him, losing a championship against him, and then having many great battles against him. We will miss him.
His former teammate at Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel, considers himself lucky to have raced alongside him in the same team. He knows him better than anyone, and he will surely miss Kimi’s silence the most.
It is an incredible talent, and to see that as a teammate for a few years was impressive, just the speed he has from the start and the ability to adapt to different cars in different conditions. He definitely earned his place, and he had a long and beautiful career.
If Räikkönen has faced fathers of several current drivers on the grid, namely Jos Verstappen and Michael Schumacher, he has also faced the new generation of drivers. The young drivers held Kimi in high regard. Pierre Gasly still remembers watching Iceman in front of his TV when he was very young.
« There is only one Kimi and he is truly unique. He will clearly be missed by everyone in the paddock. I remember my first memories dating back to 2002-2003 watching F1, Kimi was already there. I found myself in F1 against him. It’s a privilege.
George Russell told a curious anecdote during a conversation with Räikkönen at the FIA Gala in 2018:
Translate: « The first time I talked to Kimi, the conversation ended with him biting my nipples. It was at the FIA Gala in 2018. He is one of a kind and I respect everything he has achieved on and off the track as well. He’s a bit of a legend and he will be missed. There’s no one like him.
Valtteri Bottas wanted to pay tribute to his compatriot, referring to a legend in Finland.
« When I was young, I closely followed him when he first started in F1. At that time, I was doing my first single-seater season in Formula Renault when he won his title with Ferrari. He’s obviously a big star in Finland, a bit of a legend, and it was always very fun to watch him and pleasant to race with him. He always had a lot of respect for his competitors. ».
