For The Oracle’s seventh issue, we’d like to give a warm welcome to “The Iceman,” Kimi Raikkonen, who has the number seven emblazoned on his maroon and white Alfa Romeo Racing C38 Formula One (F1) car. The Finnish driver is the oldest active athlete in the sport, turning 40 years old last month. He began his F1 career in 2001, briefly driving for Sauber before having iconic stints with McLaren and Ferrari, winning the 2007 Driver’s Championship with the latter. He has appeared in over 300 races, racked up 21 wins and has 1,847 points to his name.
His aforementioned nickname is attributed to his comical “stone-cold” personality, famously giving short answers to press questions and not exuding much emotion. Some of Raikkonen’s antics have included sleeping 30 minutes before his first F1 race, walking directly from his broken car to his yacht during the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix, mouthing off to his team for talking too much on the radio during intense laps and eating ice cream in the middle of a rain-delayed race. He may not statistically be one of the best drivers of all-time, but his persona makes him a highly regarded fan favorite.
