Inside the Iceman’s new chapter — slower days, deeper joys, and the woman who has been his anchor through every victory and every quiet moment.
For almost two decades, Kimi Räikkönen was one of Formula 1’s most fascinating characters. His talent was unquestionable — a 2007 World Champion, 21-time race winner, and the man who became a fan favorite for his blunt, unfiltered honesty.
He was unpredictable, a mystery in a sport full of media-trained personalities. Kimi didn’t speak much, but when he did, it was memorable — from his famous “Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing” radio message, to his deadpan one-liners at press conferences that left journalists both laughing and guessing.
But in December 2021, at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Iceman put down his helmet for the last time. There was no drawn-out farewell tour, no emotional public goodbyes — just Kimi, walking away exactly the way he had always done things: on his own terms.
The first thing people wanted to know after his retirement was: what would he do next?
For someone who had spent nearly his entire adult life traveling from race to race, attending sponsor events, and living on a strict schedule, Kimi’s answer was as straightforward as it was telling:
“I’ll spend more time at home. More time with the kids. More time with Minttu. That’s all.”
And that’s exactly what he’s done. The Räikkönens now live a much more grounded life between Finland and Switzerland, surrounded by lakes, forests, and the kind of peace that Kimi had been craving for years.
Kimi met Minttu Virtanen in 2013, and it didn’t take long before she became an inseparable part of his life. A former flight attendant who later built a career in fitness and lifestyle influencing, Minttu brought balance to Kimi’s often chaotic F1 schedule.
When the couple married in August 2016, they chose Tuscany, Italy as the setting — a private yet breathtaking celebration filled with soft white florals, long banquet tables, and a guest list that blended family, friends, and a few of Kimi’s closest colleagues from the paddock.
This year marked nine years since they said “I do.” And while some might celebrate with extravagant parties, the Räikkönens marked the occasion in their own understated way — a family day, a special dinner, and quiet moments together.
“We’ve never been about big shows,” Minttu once told a Finnish lifestyle magazine. “Our marriage is built on the small things we do for each other every day.”
Their children — Robin and Rianna — have become the center of Kimi’s post-F1 world. Robin, who is already showing a natural interest in karting, sometimes joins his father for fun laps around local tracks. Rianna, on the other hand, is described by her mother as “full of creativity, with a quiet determination that reminds me of Kimi.”
Kimi’s once constant jet lag has been replaced with school runs, sports days, and family holidays. He’s embraced this new role with the same focus he once brought to a race weekend — just with a little less adrenaline and a lot more ice cream breaks.
The Räikkönen Way of Life
Since leaving F1, the family has spent time in:
- Lapland for cozy winter escapes under the Northern Lights
- Sardinia for sunny summers on the beach
- Verbier, Switzerland for skiing adventures
- Quiet fishing trips in Espoo, Finland, where Kimi reconnects with the simple joys of his childhood
The pace is slower, but for Kimi, that’s the point.
“When you’ve spent your life going 300 km/h, slowing down feels strange at first. But then you realize you’re finally seeing the details you missed before.”
Friends of the couple say their marriage works because they respect each other’s independence. Kimi gives Minttu space to pursue her own projects, while she supports his need for privacy and personal time.
Theirs isn’t a flashy, tabloid-driven relationship — it’s one that’s been carefully shielded from the public eye. And perhaps that’s why it’s lasted so strongly.
While Kimi shows no signs of returning to full-time racing, he hasn’t left motorsport entirely. He’s dabbled in motocross management, appeared at occasional events, and remains a figure younger drivers look up to.
But mostly, his next chapter is about life. More skiing trips. More time on the water. More moments at home. And, most importantly, more years with the woman who has been beside him through it all.
“Winning is great,” Kimi says. “But the best feeling is coming home to my family.”
From a life in the fastest sport on Earth to quiet evenings in Finland, Kimi Räikkönen’s journey shows that sometimes the most rewarding laps are the ones you take after the race is over. And with Minttu by his side, he’s proving that the Iceman’s heart was never cold — it was just waiting for the right place to call home.