STORY OF THE DAY: Räikkönen’s Final Formula One Victory

Kimi Raikkonen won the 2018 United States Grand Prix at Austin in the number 7 Ferrari SF71H. Starting second, he finished ahead of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, delaying Hamilton’s confirmation as World Champion. It was Raikkonen’s first victory since Australia in 2013 and the final win of his Formula One career.

Raikkonen passed Hamilton at the start and defended firmly through the opening stint. Ferrari committed him to a one-stop strategy, requiring disciplined tyre management as Verstappen closed from behind and Hamilton pursued on fresher rubber. Raikkonen balanced pace with restraint and kept both rivals beyond overtaking range during a tense finish.

The SF71H was an evolution of Ferrari’s competitive 2017 design, with a longer wheelbase and extensively developed sidepod and aerodynamic concepts. Its 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 hybrid power unit was among the strongest of the season, while the chassis performed effectively across both slow and high-speed corners.

Finnish driver Raikkonen entered Formula One with Sauber in 2001 and established himself as a leading competitor with McLaren. He won the 2007 World Championship in his first Ferrari season, left the sport temporarily, then returned to the Scuderia from 2014 through 2018. Austin provided a fitting final victory for one of Ferrari’s world champions.