Kimi Raikkonen says he never doubted Lotus 2012 potential – Formula 1 news
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen said that he never had a shadow of a doubt about the potential of the Lotus team in the 2012 Formula 1 season, despite the fact that the team had a troublesome 2011 season.
Raikkonen came out of retirement starring for the Lotus team for 2012. He left the sport in 2009 and came back after two years. In those two years many teams were linked to bringing the Finn back to the sport but Lotus was the team Raikkonen finally chose
to make a comeback with.
The Finn said that the team has what it takes to be gunning for the title and that is something that has given him motivation in the season to do better. The title race is still very much open and Raikkonen is definitely in the mix to challenge the leader
of the board Fernando Alonso.
Raikkonen has 116 points while Alonso is sitting on 164, although it is going to be a difficult job to close the gap in on the Spaniard but understanding the complexity and unpredictability of the season it is not something that cannot be achieved and that
is why the top five drivers are still in the mix for the title bid.
Raikkonen talked to Autosport and explained why he was so intent to sign up with Lotus even though the team struggled in 2011.
He said, “There have been years when I've been in top teams and we've had a pretty bad year, and then the next year has been completely different. It's still one of the biggest teams; they're based in the same place, they have more or less all the tools
to make the fastest car and the best car.”
“It's not maybe on the level of McLaren or Ferrari or Mercedes as for how many people we have, but they have the knowledge and they have the will to make a good car and push hard,” he added.
As Raikkonen tries to finish the second half of the season on a high, he is also being linked to other teams like Ferrari for the 2013 season. The Finn has not given any confirmations of his loyalty towards Lotus for the 2013 season however team principal
Eric Boullier has said that he is not worried about his drivers leaving the team for next year.
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