Every single race since Kimi Raikkonen’s return to Formula 1 has had a point – literally.
Raikkonen returned to Formula 1 last year with the Lotus F1 team and has not been out of the points scoring position since the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix where the Finn took second place – twenty three races in total.
As it stands, only one man has racked up more consecutive points finishes. Seven times Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher currently holds the record of twenty-four successive finishes in the points. Schumi’s run of finishes started, as Ferrari driver, with victory in the 2001 Hungarian Grand Prix and concluded with sixth place in 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix.
Naturally, Raikkonen is unfazed by the prospect of breaking Schumacher’s record. “I am sure that it will all stop at some point,” he said. “Obviously we always try to get points and do good races but it can be some small part (that breaks) and it will stop.”
Raikkonen’s consistency in 2013 has earned him the third position in the driver’s championship standings. But the Iceman is keeping it all in perspective. The Canadian Grand Prix is foremost on Raikkonen’s mind and he knows what a lottery the circuit Gilles Villeneuve can be. “The weather can change a lot, sometimes the tyres or the track aren’t working very well, sometimes there are a lot of safety cars, or sometimes another driver runs into the back of you when you’re waiting at a red light.”
A tenth place finish will guarantee Raikkonen the record of most consecutive points finishes but the 2007 champion will undoubtedly by aiming higher than that.