Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen expects to be among midfield in the 2012 season – Formula 1 news
Kimi Raikkonen stated that he does not consider himself to be in contention for the top 3 positions on the grid in the 2012 season.
Raikkonen must be feeling the pressure of a much awaited return to the sport which he left in 2009. In the two-year banishment, he was taking part in rally racing but did not achieve much success.
Since his retirement he had been approached by various teams to make a return, but nothing matured. Finally, Renault were in talks with the Finn for a comeback and were able to lure him back to the sport.
Critics have been pointing towards his lack of Formula 1 car practice to state that he will not be able to perform at the level fans and hoping for. Initially Raikkonen had stated that it will not take him much time acclimatise himself with the conditions
and the new regulations set forth by the FIA.
After running a test drive in a 2010 model Lotus car with demo Pirelli tyres, the Finn believes that he will be more or less competing for the midfield positions for the upcoming season. While he said that he wants to win a title but that is not the only
reason behind his comeback to the sport.
“I expect to have to fight in the middle group,” Raikkonen told the BBC. “But it will not be a drama. It's no different to my last year at Ferrari.”
“Of course the championship is the goal,” he is quoted by Turun Sanomat. “It's fine to try it, but I am not obsessed about having another championship or not.”
Raikkonen is still awaiting the pre-season testing to get a feel of the 2012 version of the car. The test is scheduled to be on February 7, 2012 at Jerez.
The Finn explained that after getting to run the 2012 car at the pre-season test he will be able to judge how competitive he can be during the season. He added that he has not been able to try the DRS or the KERS but is not too worried about it as it is
a matter of pressing one or two more buttons.
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