The astonishing statistics of Räikkönen's success in the United States

Kimi Räikkönen never does things like other pilots Formula 1. Contained joy on the podium, killer tackles on his team's radio, monotone during interviews, the Finn lives up to his nickname of “Iceman”).

If his attitude and his victory acquired at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday in Austin have brought joy to motorsport fans, it also allowed him to set some records in F1.

Time between first and last victory (after the 2018 US GP): 15 years

The stupid age for some, but for others, the age of reason. Kimi Räikkönen achieved his first success in F1 on the Sepang circuit in the spring of 2003. Between the Malaysian Grand Prix on March 23, 2003 and the United States Grand Prix on October 21, 2018, Exactly 5 days have passed, or 691 years, 15 months and 6 days. (we didn't count with our fingers, don't worry). For those who don't have as much memory, a little throwback to a time when the engines were making quite a racket.

Kimi Räikkönen only recorded the seventh fastest time during practice, but has a good run for the race. Indeed, sa McLaren took on a lot of fuel during his qualifying lap', and at the time the single-seaters did not refuel between qualifying practice and the GP.

Initially, he took advantage of a pilot error Michael Schumacher, to grab a few places. There Ferrari harpooned the Renault by Jarno Trulli and both lose time. But the young Nordic made the difference during the pit stops. While the poleman Fernando Alonso stops very early (a sign that he had achieved his time with little fuel), Kimi Räikkönen stayed on the track and achieved very good times.

When he finally decided to pit, he had opened up enough of a gap with his Spanish rival to start again in first place. From then on, it will manage tire wear to win with… 40 seconds ahead of Rubens Barrichello.

Another record of the same ilk, 294 Grands Prix took place between Kimi Räikkönen's first and last success in F1! This is almost as much as the entire career of Michael Schumacher (308 GP), and much more than that ofAlain Prost (199 GP) or Nelson Piquet (204 GP). Actually, 92% of drivers who participated in F1 (Since 1950) had a shorter career what a deadline of 294 races! Increasingly busy calendars explain this impressive number.

Longest interval between two victories: 114 GP
For many years, the idea of ​​Kimi Räikkönen on the highest step of the podium seemed as incongruous as 70% off sales from the first markdown in stores. Indeed, we had to wait 114 races, i.e. 5 years, 7 months and 4 days before the placid driver returns to first place!

The world of F1 was far from imagining the crossing of the desert which began at the end of the protocol ceremony on March 17, 2013 in Melbourne (Australia). For the last season with the buzzing V8 engines (rest in peace), Kimi Räikkönen handles his Lotus like a tire expert.

Qualified seventh (well), Iceman gleans two positions as soon as the lights go out. He subsequently made two passes on the line, from the outside on Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Adrian Sutil (Force India). But it's an inspired strategy with only two stops (yes, in 2018 it seems very excessive) against three for his rivals who takes him to first place, all the way to the checkered flag.

“I was able to take care of my tires and go fast when I wanted, explained the winner. This is one of my easiest victories! » Holy Kimi. It is moreover Lotus' last victory in F1.

Finnish victories record: 21
The 2007 world champion with Ferrari managed to overtake his compatriot Mika Häkkinen as the most successful Finn in F1. Michael Schumacher's scorer in 1998 and 1999 stopped at 20 races won, while Kimi Räikkönen increased this score by one unit, spread over three teams: Ferrari (10), McLaren (9) and Lotus (2).

Finally, in order to better understand the longevity of future Sauber driver in 2019, some information relating to the months of March 2003 and 2013. Beware of getting old!

While Kimi Räikkönen won the 2003 Malaysian GP…
-Sebastian Loeb did not have the slightest title to his credit in WRC. He had only won two rallies at the time.
-Valentino Rossi sets out to conquer a third title in MotoGP with Honda.
-Lindsey Vonn (née Kildow) wins the silver medal at the Junior Alpine Skiing Downhill World Championships.
-The Audi R8 of Marco Werner, Frank Biela and Philipp Peter wins the 12 Hours of Sebring (Florida)
-Max Verstappen at 5 years old.
-In tennis, Andre Agassi is ranked No. 2 in the ATP.
-Jacques Chirac is President of the French Republic.

While Kimi Räikkönen won the 2013 Australian GP…
-Sébastien Ogier finally intends to become World Rally Champion for the first year of Volkswagen's presence in the WRC.
-Marc Marquez about to debut in MotoGP on a Honda
-Max Verstappen has grown up, he is 15 years old and won international cups in karting.
-Marcel Fässler, Benoît Tréluyer and Oliver Jarvis win the 12 Hours of Sebring in an Audi R18 e-tron quattro.
-France finishes last in the Six Nations rugby tournament.
-Jorge Mario Bergoglio is elected pope and takes the name Francis.
– Emmanuel Macron is deputy secretary general of the Élysée in the government of François Hollande.