F1 1000th GP: 5 Greatest F1 Drivers (1999-2019)

Kimi Raikkonen- 2003 onward

The US Grand Prix, where Kimi beat inarguably the best man on the grid, Lewis

Every sport loves a character. And in Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari's last world champion, it can be said that Formula 1 found arguably one of its most enigmatic, if not the greatest.

For someone who broke into the tumultuous world of F1 with only 23 races against his name, acquiring his super license thanks to Peter Sauber's faith in him, Kimi's been there, gone away, done pretty much everything- such as winning Grands Prix, setting many a fastest laps, slept before his maiden F1 race, done rallying, returned to F1- and not done yet!

Isn't it?

Truth be told, for someone who started his career at a time where names like Barrichello and Schumacher were going strong to ultimately essaying his class and charisma with names like Hamilton and Vettel going strong, Kimi's one of the sport's most loved drivers, if not the most successful ones.

With 21 race wins, 103 podiums, 46 fastest laps, Raikkonen, a guy who, quite frankly, couldn't care less about the sport is interestingly someone who many care about.

This was evident by the fact that when his fans feared the worst (something that did eventually come true)- surrounding Kimi's ouster at Ferrari- they all came together to raise an online campaign in support of the man who doesn't say much but drives with a steely resolve.

With Raikkonen due to race for Alfa Romeo (formerly, Sauber) for 2020, the next year could well bring curtains to what's been a fascinating career; perhaps a bit mired in a sense of incompleteness (shouldn't Kimi have won more titles) and perhaps underlined by a calmness that few have epitomized in the sport.

But that said, Raikkonen, who won the US Grand Prix of 2018, ahead of Hamilton following a stunning drive at Monza, which saw him set the sport's fastest lap, can be content at being F1's enigma.

Not that Kimi would care much. Let's leave him alone, shall we; for he knows what he's doing!