NewsOnF1 - How far can Kimi Raikkonen go ?

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Kimi Raikkonen will be driving for McLaren Mercedes next season replacing Mika Hakkinen who decided to take a break away from racing in 2002.

This is a major coupe for Raikkonen, after all Jacques Villeneuve, Olivier Panis, Alexander Wurz and Nick Heidfeld wanted the McLaren seat in order to challenge for the Championship. Yet it was the 21 year old from Finland who landed the seat with one of the top teams in Formula 1.

Less than a year ago, Kimi Raikkonen was granted a probational Superlicense to be confirmed after the first 4 races of the 2001 season. Peter Sauber called it a miracle as Max Mosley the President of the FIA had earlier told Peter Sauber that granting Kimi a license without any experience in Formula 3 or Formula 3000 is impossible. Yet Peter Sauber managed to convince the Formula 1 commission to grant Kimi the Superlicense.

On his debut race, Kimi finished in 6th place (even though it was due to a penalty given to Panis), since then he has finished 3 times in the points and has only retired once due to driver error (he retired at 4 other events due to car problems).
Comparing him with Nick Heidfeld, his team-mate at Sauber, they are very evenly matched, in qualifying they are the closest team-mates on the grid (Heidfeld out-qualified Raikkonen 8 to 7). In the overall points, Heidfeld is 2 points ahead (11 to 9). Both Heidfeld and Raikkonen are young drivers but given Raikkonen's complete lack of experience in F3, F3000 and F1 before this season, he has certainly raised a few eyebrows.

In March 2002 with just 17 Formula 1 races under his belt, he will be driving a McLaren alongside David Coulthard and he will be in the spotlight to perform. Will he be up to it or is it too early for him to jump into a top team ? How far do you think can Kimi Raikkonen go ? - Have Your Say (What others are saying)

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With the help of Mika .Kimi will go straight to the top. McLaren should have two flying fins Mika no 1 Kimi no 2, what an ace team McLaren is - Steve - England

Kimi Raikkonen must be one hell of a talent. I mean he's obviously a fast driver, cause all the Formula 1 drivers are. But, the pressure on him must be intense, and he seems to take it in his stride. If he can maintain his composure he will give Coulthard a real run for his money, but even if he doesn't people will give him time, cause he's only 21 for god sake. I think Ron chose him because he is another Finnish driver and he knows that like Mika, the Finnish drivers are very cool and talented. I'd say that he'll be about even with Coulthard to start with then he'll start to stamp his authority - Kris - Australia

Raikkonen is a very fast driver! I was impressed by some of his performances big time (Melbourne, Austria, Canada, Silverstone). His style is very similar to Michael Schumacher's, he likes to slide the car and can cope very well with some over-steer but most of all he has adapted himself to F1 in a great way and it took small time too considering that he comes from only a season of British Formula Renault. He has a good attitude (some say he is arrogant and egoistical) and he's keen to learn the Technical sides of the sport but My Rookie of the year would have to be Montoya.

Arrows with Ford Cosworth engines, Sergio Rinland to design the chassis and Verstappen-Frentzen as drivers - What more would you want as a Arrows Fan!!!!! - Rob - Australia.

Kimi has what it takes to progress very far. World champion? I simply do not know. It is hard at the top. Lets face it , he has not really been on the limit. He may have driven his Sauber to its limit but a Sauber limit is not a McLaren limit or a Ferrari limit. To be a world champion you must have a good car. The days when MS could win a world championship in a lesser car has gone forever. And you must be able to drive a good car well. An average driver is not going to win the title in a good car either. I believe Kimi is more than average but so is a couple of other guys currently on the scene. But he is going to be in a good car next year. The 90 degree V10 promises to be something else and right up there with the Ferraris and Williamses so it is up to Kimi alone. Michael is not going to race forever. Somebody is going to take over from him and somebody after that. That somebody might as well be Kimi but it is not going to be next year. Or the year after that. He just has not got the experience but he is getting there - Johan M - South Africa