For most of his eight-year Formula One career, Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen has been called 'The Ice-man'. It's a knee-jerk moniker that could apply to any number of Finns for their generally phlegmatic approach to life. In Raikkonen's case, it is not entirely accurate, and was belied by his behind-the-scenes outbursts when fortunes turned against him at McLaren.
Kimi Raikkonen celebrates his victory in the Spanish Grand Prix © LAT |
However, championships have a way of settling and changing drivers, usually for the better. In just four races since taking his maiden title at Brazil in October, Raikkonen has changed from the Ice-man to the Anchorman.
The transition reflects the realisation that current Formula One is not as predictable as many assume.
Sure, it didn't take extraordinary pre-season insight to conclude that Ferrari and McLaren would once again lead the pack, that reliability would be excellent among the leading teams, and that drivers could be counted upon to maximise the opportunities that came their way.