Raikkonen Returns
The newly-rebranded Lotus team has announced that Kimi Räikkönen will race for the team next season. The 2007 World Champion, who left Formula 1 at the end of 2009 to pursue a career in rallying, has decided to make a comeback at the pinnacle of single-seater racing, and has signed a two-year contract with the team.
The veteran of 157 races, with 18 wins, 62 podiums and 16 pole positions will bring valuable experience to help the team make a step forward next year. The team has suffered this year in the absence of Robert Kubica following a severe rally crash in February.
Kimi Räikkönen:
“I’m delighted to be coming back to Formula 1 after a two-year break, and I’m grateful to Lotus for offering me this opportunity. My time in the World Rally Championship has been a useful stage in my career as a driver, but I can’t deny the fact that my hunger for F1 has recently become overwhelming. It was an easy choice to return with Lotus as I have been impressed by the scope of the team’s ambition. Now I’m looking forward to playing an important role in pushing the team to the very front of the grid.”
Gérard Lopez, Genii Capital, Chairman:
“All year long, we kept saying that our team was at the start of a brand new cycle. Backstage we’ve been working hard to build the foundations of a successful structure and to ensure that we would soon be able to fight at the highest level. Kimi’s decision to come back to Formula 1 with us is the first step of several announcements which should turn us into an even more serious contender in the future. Of course, we are all looking forward to working with a world champion. On behalf of our staff, I’d like to welcome Kimi to Enstone, a setting that has always been known for its human approach to Formula 1.”
The news leaves three drivers fighting for the second seat: Vitaly Petrov, Romain Grosjean, and Bruno Senna. Although Petrov has a contract, he has underperformed in 2011, while Grosjean looks set to switch to DTM following the Raikkonen announcement.
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Picture Credits: Hoch Zwei
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