After his epic late charge to a shock 2007 world championship, Kimi Raikkonen’s title defence went so awry that many expected him to retire from Formula 1.
But instead the Finn surprised the paddock by extending his Ferrari deal through 2010.
Blindingly fast and devilishly brave – his credentials have never been in doubt.
What has been is his dedication to the job outside of the car, amid some lurid tabloid appearances and long results droughts such as the mid-2008 slump that saw him fail to win after April, endure a string of races near the foot of the top 10, and end his season as Felipe Massa’s humble number two.
Raikkonen always argued that the problem was his driving style not suiting the 2008 tyres, leading to lowly qualifying positions that stymied his races – a point perhaps borne out by the record 10 fastest laps he set, invariably in the closing moments of previously miserable grands prix.
Famously emotionless, yet flamboyant behind the wheel (and in his personal life), the ‘Iceman’ is the most fascinating enigma in modern F1.
He still has the ability to win more championships, and if the 2009 Ferrari package is to his liking, you wouldn’t bet against Raikkonen staging a spectacular resurgence and making last year’s under-performance just a memory.
Career log
Replacing a retiring world champion was not a new experience for Raikkonen when he stepped into Michael Schumacher’s legendary shoes at Ferrari in 2007.
He had already been McLaren’s hand-picked successor for countryman Mika Hakkinen in 2002, off the back of a sparkling rookie season at Sauber.
Despite high hopes, his McLaren years were ultimately frustrating – particularly in 2002 and 2004 when the car was no match for Ferrari.
However a steady podium-scoring season brought him within two points of beating Schumacher to the 2003 title.
Then in 2005 Raikkonen won seven races – including a breathtaking victory from 17th on the grid in Japan.
But repeated mechanical problems scuppered his challenge, and Fernando Alonso beat him to the title.
A winless 2006 season followed and a frustrated Raikkonen headed off to Maranello, winning on his debut in Australia, then seemingly drifting out of contention.
Once totally in tune with the car, though, the Finn was unstoppable, charging up on the rails to grab the title thanks to victories in the final two races.
The early years
A successful junior karter, Raikkonen made his debut in British Formula Renault in 1999.
He initially withdrew from the series due to an uncompetitive car, but came back after six months to annihilate all opposition.
A year later he was Formula Renault champion and earned a test with Peter Sauber’s F1 team that winter.
Such was his pace that Sauber gambled on Kimi for 2001 – making him one of the least experienced rookies in the history of the sport.
No one had ever entered F1 after such a short apprenticeship before, and the FIA was initially cautious about giving Raikkonen a superlicence.
But it only took a handful of laps in Melbourne for the Finn to prove that he already belonged at the top level, and he underlined that with a point on his debut.