F1 Throwback: Kimi Raikkonen Does a Stunning Overtake on Michael Schumacher at Eau Rouge

The thought of surpassing at Spa’s Eau Rouge corner is significantly less overwhelming than it was a couple of years prior. Mark Webber broke the tough twist’s persona when he passed Fernando Alonso there in the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix. Kimi Raikkonen followed the Australian’s lead a year later.

Kimi Raikkonen took retirement from the sport in 2010 and came back in 2012. It was the year when the great Michael Schumacher took retirement from the sport.

Raikkonen’s pass on Schumacher, however, ostensibly conveyed more interest, with the last known for his once in a while punchy, underhand tricks when in nearness to different vehicles.

The overtake resuscitated recollections of Schumacher’s pass on Raikkonen in the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix when it showed up as though neither one of the drivers would endure the corner solid however some way or another did.

It was a demonstration of the aptitude of the two drivers and Raikkonen’s fortitude.

Passing Michael Schumacher in any context is a pretty notable feat for a Formula 1 driver. But slicing past Schumi while hurtling through the esses at Eau Rouge takes some serious guts. Raikkonen pulled just such a move at Spa in 2012.

Performances of Kimi Raikkonen in Belgium GP

There is one and only undisputed king of Spa and that is Michael Schumacher. He won in Spa in 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002.

Kimi Raikkonen has won in Spa in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009. It is like Kimi took the reign from Schumacher to rule in Spa.

The latest victor of Spa is the young Monégasque Charles Leclerc.

Kimi Raikkonen won his second Grand Prix in Belgium in 2004. His chances of winning were very less when he qualified in the 10th position. Kimi had his fortunes from the beginning of the race, the congested driving conditions from the start corner got him hit at the right sidepod by Felipe Massa. However, Kimi rose up out of the knocking sound and furthermore completed the primary lap at the fifth spot.

At the tenth lap of the race, Trulli went in for the refueling break and when Kimi was going to pick up the second spot, Alonso spun off the track parting with the lead to Kimi. From that point on it was an impeccable race from the iceman in spite of the Safety vehicle interferences all through the race.

2005 was the year when Kimi arose on another level, winning seven races. He stood second on the Drivers’ Championship that year. He went on to win for the second year in a row in Belgium at Spa-Francorchamps

He again won at the Spa in 2007, getting his hat trick at the track. In 2009, he qualified in the 6th position. It was sheer talent and support from KERS which made it possible for the Iceman to hunt down the lead and maintain it till the chequered flag.

Max Verstappen took inspiration from 2012 incidence

Max was only 18 years old when he bravely overtook Sergio “Checo” Perez. Max Verstappen admits his thrilling pass on Sergio Perez at the Brazilian Grand Prix was inspired by Kimi Raikkonen’s on Michael Schumacher in 2012.

“I saw it a few years ago between Raikkonen and Schumacher,” Verstappen said.

“I thought that looked nice — and then I had the opportunity to do it. You can do your best, but if the other one doesn’t care and smashes you off track then it is over. Luckily Checo is very fair, so we had a great fight,” he added.