Kimi Raikkonen might have had a quiet couple of seasons on his return to the Ferrari team, but in 2016, he made his presence felt in Formula One once more.
At the start of the season, all the hype surrounded what was billed as a Mercedes versus Ferrari battle for glory. Throughout the year, however, the ‘Iceman’ played a very canny and consistent role proving he was still the driver he was a decade ago.
Many thought he would play a number two role, helping Vettel and collect points for Ferrari in the Constructors’ championship. Yet, this didn’t turn out to be the case.
After years of trying to help Ferrari get the car setup the way he wanted it, Raikkonen was finally happy with the what the SF16-H would offer him.
Despite not scoring in Australia due to a fiery power unit and later crashing out in the rain in Monaco, the Finn would pick up three podiums in the opening six races, including a second place at the Spanish Grand Prix where he relentlessly chased down Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to a near victory.
Raikkonen carried his consistency through the middle part of the season, rarely finishing outside of the top six and also matching teammate Vettel in the qualifying stakes.
The disappointing results of the past few years were beginning to become a distant memory and, while Mercedes were continuing to dominate for the race wins, the Iceman was proving that he could fly under the radar and deliver the results.
At the Hungarian Grand Prix, Raikkonen put on a great display of driving, firstly by passing Sauber’s Felipe Nasr almost sideways into Turn 12 in the early stages of the race before proceeding to drive through the field using the superior pace of his Ferrari.
As some drivers often do in a season, for one reason or another, Raikkonen and Verstappen found themselves together on several occasions fighting for position in the race. They first fought each other hard in Budapest where it was Raikkonen who was on the offensive trying to pass the young Dutchman.
However, the defensive tactics of Verstappen did not please the Finn, as part of his front wing was damaged during one such manoeuvre from the Red Bull driver.
As the season reached the summer break at the end of July, Raikkonen was ahead of his teammate in the points standings, much to the surprise of many, with the Finn still rarely finishing outside the top six and securing points where possible.
When the season resumed at the Belgian Grand Prix, yet again Raikkonen and Verstappen found themselves sharing the same stretch of racetrack once more. The Dutchman still utilised his aggressive style of driving defending from Raikkonen, noticeably blocking late along the Kemmel Straight much to his rival’s disapproval.
Ninth at Spa-Francorchamps would be his worst finish of the season, but the race still showed he has the fight within him to fight at the top level.
More top six finishes would come in the following races, however, a strange pit-stop error from the pit-crew at the United States Grand Prix left Raikkonen with a loose wheel. Stranded at the exit of the pit lane, his option to reverse his car back down into the pit-lane and park up on the inside was one not seen before.
More disappointment came in the sodden Brazilian Grand Prix as Kimi aquaplaned into the pit wall, leaving a sorry looking Ferrari stranded in the middle of the track
Finishing sixth in the Drivers’ standings at the end of the season proved to all his doubters that he still has what it takes to be in Formula One despite being on what is considered the latter stages of his career.
Raikkonen never backs down and fights to the bitter end. A near victory at the Spanish Grand Prix has to be one of his best performances in 2016 and if in 2017 he can replicate these sort of performances, he will no doubt give Vettel another tough run being teammates.
The ‘Iceman’ is still going strong and isn’t willing to melt away just yet!
What happened since 2016?
Raikkonen’s late Ferrari spell still had one last great spike left in it. He stayed with the Scuderia through 2017 and 2018, took pole at Monza in 2018, and then produced a hugely popular victory at the United States Grand Prix later that year. It was his first win since 2013 and the final Grand Prix victory of his F1 career.
Ferrari moved him on at the end of 2018 as Charles Leclerc arrived, but Raikkonen did not leave the sport immediately. Instead he returned to the Hinwil team, racing for Alfa Romeo from 2019 to 2021 and eventually retiring from Formula 1 with 349 Grand Prix starts to his name.
Since then, the Finn has kept the low-key rhythm that always suited him. He made selective NASCAR Cup appearances with Trackhouse’s Project91 programme and continued his off-track life away from the F1 spotlight, including involvement in motocross. The 2016 renaissance was not a final act, but it was the beginning of his last meaningful Ferrari chapter.
