Kimi Raikkonen: photos, biography, interesting facts

Kimi Raikkonen - the famous Finnish racer, repeatedly won the world championship, "Formula 1" and has won a great number of medals, cups and awards. It was he who took an active part in the Rally of Finland, made his debut in the team "Ferrari" and received the honorary title of one of the best pilots of the notorious racing tournament "F-1". More about his biography, career development, achievements and personal life, read on.

Childhood and adolescence

Kimi Raikkonen was born in October 1979. His homeland is considered a small town of Espoo, is located on one of the coasts of the Gulf of Finland, just west of the capital of Finland. From childhood he loved to drive fast and appreciate the sense of competition. In this case, it does not matter it was, he participates in a normal race or the courtyard becomes a professional on ski. According to his parents, he always tried to be the first. Therefore, moving always struggled and tried to squeeze the maximum.

The first step in the athletic career

Since the age of 7 Kimi Raikkonen became interested in karting. At first it was just fun, but it turned into something else over time. When the boy turned 10, his name has figured on the tournament scoreboard junior. So simple hobby became a kind of foundation for the future sports career of the rider.

Unexpected successes and achievements

Since mid-1994, Kimi Raikkonen is starting to raise their bar. He trains a lot, improving piloting skills and learning subtle techniques spectacular karting. And then, until 1997, he participates in races and competitions taking place on one of the specialized Russian routes. At some of the things he manages to win the silver. This becomes his most long-awaited victory, allows you to enjoy the first rays of glory.

One of the most fruitful moments in life

1999 Kimi Raikkonen dubbed as the most fruitful period in the biography. It was at this time our hero has received the highest number of awards and prizes. It began the year with the first victory. Then Raikkonen confirmed his leading position and won the vice-champion's title in the "Formula Super A". Toward the middle of the year racer receives several awards, one of which is associated with the victory in the Winter Series "Formula Renault", held in the UK.

driver Ascent to Olympus

Stunning victory novice could not go unnoticed. And then a year later after a series of successful performances Kimi Raikkonen (photo can be found below) begins the first ascent of the honorable sports "Olympus". He was lucky to be at the right time in a suitable place.

And, as happens in such cases, he said one of the main leaders of the team, known as "Sauber". He offered to our hero to pass a general test to participate in the next race, but on a higher level. The test was put to excellent. Therefore, prospective freshman, behind which was already 23 successful arrival, there was his first full-length one-year contract and temporary pilot's license.

in the team victory and game

The "Sauber" was for one of the first riders, where he was fortunate enough to experience the proverbial team spirit. And to prove loyalty and full support of its partners Kimi failed, since the first race in Australia. While the pilot was lucky to enter the top five. Next Kimi Raikkonen (photo in full growth found at the end of this text) continued to score points, and by the end of the championship he was lucky to gain a foothold in 10 ranking positions. Thanks to "Sauber" coherence team parterres managed to gain a foothold in fourth place. And this, in turn, allowed them to qualify for the main prize in the constructors' championship, "Formula 1" and a positive impact on the reputation of the team as a whole.

Change of attitudes and choices in favor of the other team

To the surprise of Kimi, he did not have to think about finding a job after the expiration of the contract with "Sauber". Once the terms of the previous contract passed, our hero was offered a new contract, but "McLaren" command in the composition. The owner of the group was so impressed by the achievements of the rider that he invited him an hour instead of the famous pilot Mika Hakkiensa.

To everyone's surprise, Kimi Raikkonen (photos and footage of his life can be seen in this article) was able to meet the expectations of the head of the team, starting with the first race in 2002, held in Australia. At this time he was lucky to get into the top three leaders of arrival. And the French Grand Prix he nearly won the first place, but ran off the road and came second chance. And then we were still a few bad races, which did not allow the rider to win a landslide victory.

KR: interesting facts and thorny path to victory

After a not so successful in 2002 was the following, which is also not extremely variegated colors. Thus, during this period our hero has not managed to come first. And, as luck would have it, he was all the time something hurt: let the car, it was impossible to bypass rivals, and even had an unexpected speeding ticket. Therefore, until the end of 2003, Raikkonen was peculiar swing. In one arrival it became fourth in the other - the third, the second, but not the first. In one competition he even almost managed to get a technical victory due to stop of the race (the reason was bad weather). However, when re-viewing cameras victory was awarded to other athletes, costing our pilot for a few seconds. As a result, in the team, "McLaren" race driver failed to reach specific heights, and in early 2007 he was lured into the "Ferrari".

The contract with the new team was not only promising, but also well paid. It was said that the driver the amount of payment under the contract is about 51 million dollars per year. And he was not the pilot planned to repeat the career of Schumacher. He even once suggested that the team "Ferrari" will be the last of his career. Exactly thought Kimi Raikkonen. Personal life he had at that time already been built, so it is with a calm heart could leave on a long-awaited peace. As it turned out, it was only a false conjecture.

While working in the new team, Kimi won during the Grand Prix in Australia (2007), then won the award in the Grand Prix of France and the UK. Once was a stunning victory in the Grand Prix of Europe, Brazil and China.

A few interesting details from his personal life

Despite all the vicissitudes of his life, Kimi continued to go forward. He changed a lot of teams, coaches and cars, but remained true to his prudent tactics and harsh view "Ice Man" (this is the name of the rider for his tact and special cold calculation at the time of arrival).

In addition to the races, our hero is still keen and hockey. And it can play quite professional in it. Also, it is easily mastered snowboarding, biking and snow motorcycle. Despite its attractive career, the driver is not a supporter of a healthy lifestyle. He likes to sleep, a lot of smoke and can afford the alcohol. Kimi was married twice. At first, his wife was a Finnish model and simply beautiful Jenni Dahlman. It is rumored that after her divorce from Kimi Raikkonen (photo of his wife can be seen here) sued his former passion he has a pretty decent amount.

In 2016, racer married again. This time his choice was Myntti Virtanen - a former flight attendant, professional fitness addicting. It is interesting that a couple of the wedding date is constantly postponed. And in 2015 they had a son, whom they named Robin. And only a year after the birth of the baby love still managed to legalize their relationship.