Kimi Räikkönen

Kimi Matias Räikkönen (pronounced approximately /ki-mi ma-ti-as ræik-kø-nen/ in IPA, born October 17 1979 in Espoo, Finland), is a Formula One race car driver, considered the driver with most potential in recent years. He is 1.75 m (5 feet 9 inches) tall and weighs 65 kg (143 lb).

McLaren

Räikkönen, long rumoured to be linked to a future Ferrari deal, instead sufficiently impressed McLaren, earning a race seat on Ron Dennis's team for 2002, replacing double-world champion (and fellow Finn) Mika Häkkinen.

Related Topics:
Ferrari - McLaren - Ron Dennis - 2002 - World champion - Mika Häkkinen

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Räikkönen scored a third-place podium finish in his first race with McLaren, the 2002 Australian Grand Prix. Although McLaren suffered many Mercedes engine failures in 2002, he still managed to score 24 points and four podiums, and held his own to teammate David Coulthard. Räikkönen came close to winning his first grand prix in France, but spun out on oil spilled on the Magny-Cours circuit with a handful of laps to go, settling for second place. All told, he finished the season in sixth place, right behind his teammate in fifth; together, they enabled McLaren to a solid third place in the constructor chase.

Related Topics:
2002 Australian Grand Prix - Mercedes - David Coulthard - France - Magny-Cours

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