Ferrari Formula 1 driver Kimi Räikkönen has been appointed an ambassador for sport in his native country of Finland.
The ceremony took place in Helsinki, with Räikkönen receiving the honour from Finnish prime minister Juha Sipilä.
Raikkonen will compete in his 15th season in F1 this year and his seventh for Ferrari, following stints at Sauber, McLaren and Lotus.
The 2007 F1 world champion has scored 20 victories and notched up 16 pole positions in his career so far.
The Finnish government has never before appointed anyone as an ambassador for sport.
"I’m not that used to making formal speeches,” Räikkönen said at the Sport Gala ceremony.
"But I would like to wish all the best to the winners in every category, as well as those who missed out on the prizes this year.
"I would stress how important it has been in my case to have the support of my family and help from trustworthy colleagues and the people within the Ferrari team, with whom I have worked for so many years now."
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