In a sport where drivers often fight tooth and nail to extend their careers with Formula 1’s most prestigious teams, Kimi Räikkönen‘s reaction to Ferrari ending his contract early was surprisingly… calm. Or, in true Kimi fashion — “very happy.”
While many fans viewed the decision as a bittersweet ending to his second stint with Ferrari, Kimi himself saw it as something else entirely: freedom.
In 2018, Ferrari made the decision to replace Räikkönen with rising star Charles Leclerc for the 2019 season. At the time, Kimi was 39, still competitive, but clearly no longer the team’s long-term bet. Yet instead of expressing bitterness or frustration, the 2007 World Champion took the news with characteristic chill.
“I wasn’t sad. I was actually very happy when they told me,” Kimi said later.
“I was relieved. I felt free again. I had no stress, no politics, no need to deal with all the nonsense that comes with driving for Ferrari.”
Shortly after the announcement, Räikkönen stunned the paddock by signing a two-year deal with Sauber (later Alfa Romeo) — the very team where his F1 career had started in 2001.
For many, this seemed like a step down. For Kimi, it was the opposite.
“I went back to Sauber because I wanted to race without the pressure, the drama, and the circus,” he said.
“At Ferrari, everything you say becomes a headline. At Sauber, I could just be me.”
Kimi has never been a fan of the corporate politics that dominate the top teams — and Ferrari, being a national institution in Italy, comes with more scrutiny than most. From constant media pressure to sponsor obligations, Kimi endured it all for years, but it clearly didn’t align with his personality.
“I like driving. That’s it. Not the meetings, the media, or the fake stuff,” he once said.
“At Ferrari, sometimes I didn’t even get to enjoy racing.”
Ironically, after the announcement of his Ferrari exit, Räikkönen seemed to drive with new life. He claimed a popular win at the 2018 United States Grand Prix — his first in five years — just weeks after the team confirmed he would be leaving.
“That win wasn’t for Ferrari. It was for me, my family, and my fans,” Kimi smiled post-race.
Despite the premature end to his contract, Kimi insisted there were no hard feelings with the team that had given him his world title in 2007.
“Ferrari gave me great years. We had some highs and some lows. But I don’t blame them. It’s racing. I’m thankful. But I was also happy to go.”
Kimi Räikkönen’s departure from Ferrari was the perfect example of how the Iceman operates — no drama, no tears, just honesty. He saw beyond the prestige of the red suit and prioritized happiness, authenticity, and pure racing.
In the end, walking away wasn’t a loss for him. It was a liberation.
“I didn’t lose Ferrari. I found myself again.”
And that’s why, when most would feel crushed, Kimi Räikkönen felt very happy.
