Raikkonen wears James Hunt helmet in Monaco

Kimi Raikkonen is paying tribute to one of his heroes this weekend at Monaco.

During Thursday practice for this weekend’s blue-riband event, onlookers were surprised to see the late James Hunt apparently at the wheel of a 2012 black and gold Lotus.

In fact, it was Finn Raikkonen wearing 1976 world champion Hunt’s iconic black helmet livery.

In 32-year-old Raikkonen’s championship year in 2007, he famously entered a snowmobile race under the name ’James Hunt’.

Raikkonen has admitted to identifying with the carefree Briton, who once said after winning a grand prix: "9 points, $20,000 and a lot of happiness — can I grab that cigarette?"

The former BBC commentator, who died aged 45 in 1993, also wore a logo on his overalls with the words: "Sex: breakfast of champions".

Asked about the tribute on Thursday, Raikkonen insisted: "It’s not for any particular reason.

"I just like him and the kind of racing there was in the past," he is quoted by the Finnish broadcaster MTV3.

"It’s a nice (helmet) design. There’s not any more (to it) than that."