Kimi Raikkonen says that he is not a newcomer in F1 – Formula 1 news
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen has said that he is not a newcomer in Formula 1. However, he admitted that the racing conditions have been changed in the last two years.
Raikkonen has made his F1 return in this season with Lotus after being in the World Rally Championship and NASCAR for two years.
On his comeback, the Finnish driver expressed that nothing has been changed considerably while he said that he is just the same as he used to be.
“I'm still the same person as I was before,” he said. “Maybe people see me as more relaxed, which I think is down to the team. It's a different atmosphere to what I've experienced before; everyone is very open and laid back but at the same time they work
extremely hard and pay a lot of attention to detail.”
Moreover, he said that he is relaxed being in the team. Nonetheless, he said that he is determined for the season ahead.
“I feel comfortable here which helps me to focus on racing; I guess that's why people seem to think I'm a different person, but I'm just as focused and motivated as before,” said Raikkonen.
After struggling in the qualifying of the season opener held at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia Raikkonen managed to secure a fighting finish at seventh place in the race. Furthermore, he finished at fifth position in the second race held at Sepang International
Circuit in Malaysia.
In addition, he said that they faced some issues during the pre-season testing this season and gearbox problem in the second GP. Nevertheless, he said that they have been able to strike back on the difficulties and made their position stronger for the races
ahead.
Besides, he feels that they have been able to set an encouraging start of the season. He also said that the team has been doing an amazing job to make the essential developments in the car and the substantial preparations for the upcoming races.
He added that they have the potential to make their way to the front with the pace of the car E20 if they get the favourable race conditions.
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