Kimi Raikkonen: How family life has changed now away from F1 circus

With Kimi Raikkonen now free of the demanding Formula 1 schedule, his wife Minttu lifted the lid on how family life has changed.

Raikkonen re-wrote the Formula 1 history books when he became the most experienced driver of all time, a record which has since fallen to Fernando Alonso with Raikkonen having decided that that come the end of the 2021 campaign, enough was enough.

The conclusion of the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP may well be more memorable for other reasons, but this was also the final Grand Prix in the career of Raikkonen, the 2007 World Champion who left the series with no plans other than to spend more time with his family.

And that is exactly what Raikkonen has been doing, his wife Minttu revealing that their family will soon expand with a third child on the way, an addition which she said would not have happened if he was not back home soaking up the family life.

Indeed, this is a life very “different” to the one when Raikkonen was touring the globe as a Formula 1 driver.

“We have a boy and a girl, so I thought that was perfect – it is. But then my husband retired and he was home more,” said Minttu in an interview for Vogue. “I wouldn’t be here, pregnant with my third child, if he was still driving.

“I love that he likes to do things with the kids – he’s very good at that. It’s definitely different now that there are two parents at home.”

Racing is still very much in the Raikkonen genes, with their eight-year-old son Robin already involved in the go-karting scene, and a race-winning young driver at that.

Five-year-old daughter Rianna also has an interest in motors, which could well lead her onto the junior racing ladder as well.

“Our son is now driving go-karts, so he’s definitely interested,” Minttu stated.

“Our daughter is also already driving, but not racing yet. So the interest is there. I will support them in whatever they want to do.”

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As for Kimi, well he has not pulled the plug on his racing days just yet, having enjoyed a couple of NASCAR outings since calling time on his Formula 1 career.

Most recently he appeared at the Circuit of The Americas NASCAR Cup Series round, where he shared the grid with former F1 rival and fellow past World Champion Jenson Button, who was making his NASCAR debut.

Raikkonen did not close the door on potential future NASCAR outings, so that appearance may not be the end of the story.