Team: McLaren
Nationality: Finnish
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| | Raikkonen |
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STATS
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Year
|
Rank
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Wins
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Poles
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Podium
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Best finish
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2002
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6
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0
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0
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4
|
2nd, France
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Career
|
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
2nd
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2002 Recap
The Good: True, Kimi Raikkonen made a huge impression in his rookie season with Sauber in 2001, but McLaren still took a bit of a gamble on signing the icy-cool Finn rather than a more established driver. But McLaren's bet paid off as Raikkonen proved he would be a superstar very soon. He was unfazed when battling with the likes of Michael Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya.
Season Highlight: He nearly won the French Grand Prix. He was leading in the final laps but slid wide on a patch of oil and Schumacher nipped by to take the win. Raikkonen's wheel-to-wheel battle with Montoya in the German Grand Prix was another memorable moment.
The Bad: The McLaren was nowhere near on par with the Ferrari and could not always beat the Williams either. Raikkonen also had a lot of unreliability woes and retired from five of the first seven races and failed to finish in 10 of his 17 starts.
Season Lowlight: Losing the French Grand Prix. Raikkonen calls it the best and most disappointing race of his career.
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| Kimi Raikkonen hopes to find a way to get in front of the Ferraris in 2003. |
Key Stat: Raikkonen out-qualified his more experienced teammate David Coulthard 10 to 7, but at the end of those 17 races Coulthard had 41 points and Raikkonen had 24.
2003 Outlook
What needs to be done: Raikkonen has proved he can run with the best of them. Now McLaren and engine manufacturer Mercedes need to give him the tools to do that consistently.
Prediction: Raikkonen will win his first grand prix in 2003.
Your Take
Here are your thoughts on Raikkonen's prospects for 2003 and beyond.
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