Räikkönen entered Formula One as a regular driver for Sauber-Petronas in , having competed in only 23 car races previously. He joined McLaren-Mercedes in , and became a title contender by finishing runner-up in the championship to Michael Schumacher in 2003, and Fernando Alonso in 2005. Räikkönen's seasons at McLaren were plagued by severe unreliability from his cars, prompting a move to Ferrari in 2007. This change saw him crowned Formula One World Drivers' Champion that season, pipping both McLaren drivers – Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso – to the title by one point. In 2008 he equalled the record for the greatest number of fastest laps in a season for the second time.