Kimi Räikkönen
The monosyllabic Finnish driver known as 'The Iceman', who combined a blistering natural speed with unshakeable cool to win a dramatic Formula One world title.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Finnish racing driver·Birthday: October 17·Generation X
Biography
Kimi Räikkönen exploded into Formula One with a raw, breathtaking speed that immediately marked him as a future champion. His driving style was pure, instinctive, and devastatingly fast, earning him the perfect nickname 'The Iceman' for his unflappable demeanor under immense pressure. After near-misses with McLaren, his move to Ferrari culminated in the 2007 World Championship, which he seized in a thrilling, last-race comeback in Brazil. His career is a story of two acts: a dominant first stint followed by a two-year rallying adventure, and then a remarkably long and popular return to F1 with Lotus and a second Ferrari term. Räikkönen's legacy is built on a rare authenticity; his terse radio messages and 'leave me alone, I know what I'm doing' attitude made him a cult hero in a highly polished sport.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Kimi was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kimi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Kimi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 2007 driving for Scuderia Ferrari.
- Secured 21 Grand Prix victories, making him one of the most winningest drivers in F1 history.
- Held the record for most race starts in Formula One history at the time of his retirement (349 starts).
- Returned to F1 in 2012 with Lotus and won his first race back, the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Did You Know?
He once left a podium ceremony during the national anthem to use the bathroom.
He owns a motocross track on his property in Switzerland.
His 2005 McLaren car is nicknamed 'The Kimobile' by fans.
He competed in the World Rally Championship for two seasons after his initial F1 career.
“Leave me alone, I know what I'm doing.”
