2006 Bahrain Grand Prix: Recollecting Raikkonen’s Finest Comeback

We all remember the King of Spa in action in Belgium. Only recently, in 2018 did we see him in action and in full swing at Monza. But how many of us remember the best of Kimi at a memorable 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix?

In the fancy world of Formula 1, there’s a simple saying. There are drivers and then there are the Finns. Probably the saying that, “If you want to win, then hire a Finn” would also sit well with those who truly admire these enigmatic characters.

And speaking of an enigma, who can be better than a certain Kimi Matias Raikkonen. Life, as they say, has come full circle for F1’s ‘Iceman’ having returned to the team with which he first began racing in F1, with just 23 races against his name.

At the Hinwill-based outfit, newly christened as Alfa Romeo, Sauber’s wonder-find of 2003- Kimi Raikkonen- is still going strong. Yes, a rather sedate P8 (ordinary, truth be told ordinary by Kimi’s standards) did get his Alfa Romeo off the mark and fetched the driver 4 points. But one’s sure that Raikkonen, approaching 40, is much better than that. Right?

So while a lot of what he can do for Frederic Vasseur-led Alfa Romeo rests in the lap of the future, how about some moonwalking back to the past to remember what Kimi did at a certain 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix?

After all, it’s the Bahrain Grand Prix where Kimi will once again attempt to demonstrate all that he stands for- right? So let’s recollect what happened at this event, over 12 years into the past.

So back in 2006, Kimi was with McLaren.

Interestingly, at a time where much of F1 was about the Alonso versus Schumi saga, Kimi captured headlines. And how?

He began from the very end of the track at the Bahrain Grand Prix, thanks to a rear wishbone failure in his McLaren. What did this mean? Well, a P22 on the grid was all that the Kimster managed.

Then, later on, some real action took place in the 57-lap contest.

While the rear suspension failure saw the Iceman quit in Q1 itself, Raikkonen was under pressure to deliver a good race. It didn’t help ease any pressure that his teammate, arguably a better driver then, in Montoya had already bagged fifth.

So what did Kimi do?

Starting from the back of the grid, Raikkonen had 21 cars up in front. But inside the first corner itself, he would make up several places. Delivering a mega first lap, Raikkonen passed 9 cars.

It ought to be asked, how many would’ve expected something like that?

Proving that he was no ordinary backmarker, Raikkonen, who at the end of Lap 1 was already on P13, would make further gains at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Crossing Lap 2, he would hang in there without dropping back from thirteenth.

Throughout the course of the race at Sakhir, Raikkonen would box only once for fresh tyres.

This single stop strategy at the halfway stage combined with his incredible pace would set the tempo of what would eventually be a fantastic Grand Prix.

Some of his finest battles were forged with Fisichella (Renault) and Villeneuve (Sauber), both of whom he’d pass inside the first ten laps.

There was no dearth of action in the midfield as Coulthard and Nick Heidfeld battled fiercely even as Alonso and Schumacher, the usual suspects at the front were busy scrapping for the top position at Bahrain.

At this time, Kimi, already hunting down much of the midfield was up and away.

He would eventually conquer 19 cars in all, having begun from the rear-end of the grid. In so doing, the Iceman registered a sensational recovery much to the delight of his boss, Ron Dennis.

It’s little wonder then that it was the iconic Brit who gave the Finn his nickname.