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Sebastian Vettel Affirmed Kimi Raikkonen Was “The Most Naturally Talented Driver” as Ferrari Relied on the Finn for New Upgrades

Somin Bhattacharjee
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Sebastian Vettel Affirmed Kimi Raikkonen Was “The Most Naturally Talented Driver” as Ferrari Relied on the Finn for New Upgrades

Kimi Raikkonen’s driving prowess often went under the radar in the latter years of his career, because of his unique personality, which the F1 community would love. However, his talent could not be slept on. Raikkonen, who won the world championship with Ferrari back in 2007, was considered one of the most gifted drivers on the grid by his former teammate Sebastian Vettel.

On the Pitlane Life Lessons podcast, Raikkonen’s former trainer Mark Arnall revealed that Vettel considered the Finn “the most naturally talented driver”. Whenever Ferrari would bring a new upgrade, they would first fit them into Raikkonen’s car because they knew he would give valuable feedback.

“They knew they’d get an ‘it’s sh*t get it off’ or ‘it’s okay, let’s work around it…Other drivers would say, ‘Okay the wind tunnel says it’s three-tenths quicker. We’ve gotta make it work’,” Arnall added.

Raikkonen’s natural ability was on display at its finest in the early 2000s. With McLaren, he never won the World title but gave all-time greats like Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher a tough time.

The ‘Iceman’ would win his first and only championship with Ferrari in 2007, and to date remains their last winner in the drivers’ category. Vettel, who is a great friend of Raikkonen’s, spent the latter’s last years at Ferrari with him, before the Finn moved to Sauber (then Alfa Romeo).

Infamously, on Netflix’s Drive to Survive docuseries, Raikkonen gave a hilarious response to the reporter asking him about his motivation behind suiting up for F1. “It’s more like a hobby for me. So, obviously, I don’t need to do it if I don’t want.” Having already achieved legendary status in the sport, Raikkonen left F1 in 2021.

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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