When Kimi Räikkönen quietly stepped away from Formula 1, there were no grand farewell parades, no year-long “last dance” tour, and certainly no emotional speeches. That, of course, was entirely on brand for the man they called The Iceman. But even in the absence of fanfare, the void left by his departure is undeniable — and now, a new generation is speaking out about what his absence truly means.
Among those paying tribute is Kimi Antonelli, the rising teenage sensation from Italy who has often been compared to the F1 greats. In a rare personal interview, the young Mercedes-backed prodigy opened up about his admiration for Räikkönen — a driver he says helped shape his dream before he even sat in a kart.
“I didn’t grow up watching a lot of press conferences,” Antonelli laughed. “But I always watched Kimi. He was different. He didn’t speak much, but when he did, it mattered. He raced with fire but carried himself like ice.”
Kimi Räikkönen’s career was as unique as his personality. From winning the 2007 Formula 1 World Championship with Ferrari — the last driver to do so for the Scuderia — to his stints with Lotus, Alfa Romeo, and beyond, Räikkönen earned respect not by building a media image, but by being unapologetically himself.
He wasn’t loud. He wasn’t always politically correct. He didn’t play the PR game. But he was fast, fearless, and fiercely loyal to those he trusted.
“When you think of legends,” Antonelli said, “you think of people who inspired others not just by winning, but by being real. Kimi did that. He didn’t try to be a hero. He just was.”
Räikkönen’s retirement didn’t just mark the end of a career — it marked the slow fading of a generation of drivers who came up before the social media explosion, before F1’s global Netflix-driven revival, and before drivers were expected to be polished spokespeople 24/7.
His exit is symbolic of the sport’s transformation — from raw, mechanical, and gritty to data-driven, media-savvy, and ultra-commercial. While many fans embrace this evolution, Räikkönen stood as a last link to a time when racing came first and everything else was a distraction.
“He reminded us that it’s okay to just drive and keep things simple,” Antonelli said. “That’s rare now. That’s why so many of us looked up to him.”
While Kimi’s 21 career wins and one world title may not match the numbers of a Hamilton or a Schumacher, his influence transcends statistics. His iconic radio messages (“Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing”), his stone-faced podiums, and even his random appearances at motocross events with a beer in hand — all helped elevate him from champion to cult icon.
You didn’t have to be Finnish to love him. You just had to appreciate authenticity in a world full of carefully crafted personas.
“Kimi was the driver who made being quiet cool,” Antonelli said with a smile. “You didn’t need to scream to be heard when you were Kimi.”
Though he’s retired from Formula 1, Räikkönen continues to enjoy life at his own pace — spending time with his family, dabbling in NASCAR and rallycross, and staying far away from any unnecessary attention.
As for Kimi Antonelli, he carries the Iceman’s name, and in some ways, the torch. Though the two are not related, the younger Kimi admits the connection gives him an extra sense of pride.
“People always ask me, ‘Are you named after him?’ And I just say, ‘Yes — and I hope I can be half as cool.’”
Kimi Räikkönen didn’t just race. He existed on his own terms, and somehow, that made him more legendary than any PR campaign could ever dream of. As a new wave of drivers rise through the ranks, one thing is certain: the original Iceman may have stepped away — but his spirit still echoes in every corner of the paddock.
Because in the world of F1, there was never anyone quite like Kimi.
And there never will be again.
