The Finn — or the Iceman as he is commonly referred to within motorsport — has been one of Formula One’s most interesting, and misunderstood, characters ever since Sauber took a chance on a callow 21 year-old with just 23 single-seater races behind him.

Monosyllabic in public to the point of being comical, but a maverick away from the microphone; an adrenaline junkie who will race anything from powerboats (famously dressed in a gorilla suit) to snowmobiles; a free spirit with a fondness for spirits.

Despite his lack of interest in self-promotion — or, more likely because of it — Raikkonen has built up a cult following over the past decade.

He rolls his eyes when quizzed on the famous ‘ice cream for the Iceman’ episode from his final season at Ferrari in 2009.

“The funny thing is that people made a big story out of that, like I was lacking motivation, but if the team tells you you’re not allowed to race the car because it’s broken and it’s too dangerous because of the water and the KERS device…” he sighs. “Sometimes people try to make a bad story out of things which are normal. But that’s how it goes.”

Full Article: telegraph.co.uk/kimi-raikkonen-will-not-bow...html