Feature: Iceman Raikkonen Comes of Age

When Kimi Raikkonen arrived in Formula One three years ago, he did so breaking every rule in the book.

Controversially, with just 23 car races to his name, he was granted the FIA Superlicense required to race in Formula One. Unlike the rest, who had got there via the more traditional routes of Formula Three and Formula 3000, he had come straight from Britain's junior Formula Renault series.

He had dominated it, despite having to fly back to his native Finland in between races to carry out his country's mandatory national service. Before that, he had raced only in karts, coming to Britain in 1999 with a better record than that of Finland's double World Champion Mika Hakkinen - coincidentally then driving for the same team that Raikkonen finds himself part of today.

Raikkonen's rise to the top was unique and, at first, he was put on probation to ensure he could cope with the pressure of Formula One. Now the 23-year-old, whose roots are working class, from a mining family in Espoo, is the future of the sport.

His victory, overdue some might argue, in the Malaysian Grand Prix heralded the arrival of Formula One's next generation of superstar drivers. Only as he flew back to his home in Switzerland in the evening did he think his victory would hit him. He may now celebrate with a beer.

"People go on about (Juan Pablo) Montoya and Kimi being the ones to challenge Schumacher," said Raikkonen's Formula Renault team chief John Booth. "I think we can see that it's Kimi who's the one."

Raikkonen's victory at Sepang was enough to almost reduce his current team chief, McLaren-Mercedes' Ron Dennis, to tears. Dennis sees in Raikkonen the same driver as he had in Hakkinen, with whom he enjoyed such a close, personal friendship.

"I can't tell you how important it is for a driver to win his first Grand Prix and how much weight it takes off their shoulders. He really deserves it," said Dennis.

McLaren managing director Martin Whitmarsh was also deeply moved by the team's latest boy wonder and summed up the high regard in which all within the Woking squad hold him.

"He is such a young driver and such a great talent, it is fantastic to have him in the team," said Whitmarsh. "He's going to win more races this year and he's going to be World Champion. He has had a few tough calls, Magny Cours and Australia, so it is just fantastic. He drove a great race."

Alongside Raikkonen in Malaysia was 21-year-old Spaniard Fernando Alonso who finished third for Renault, having started from his first ever pole position - a feat that Raikkonen is still to achieve. The result will have delighted Formula One's watching ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone, who knows he needs new winners and fresh faces up there to keep Formula One alive and healthy.

Today, new life and energy was breathed into his sport.