Kimi's back - and testing in Spain
2012-01-24 06:40
BACK IN A HOT SEAT: 2007 F1 World champion Kimi Raikkonen does a trial run in a two-year-old Lotus-Renault F1 car on January 23, 2012 in Valencia - his first test since his return from two years in World Rallying. Image: AFP, Lotus
Author: Alan Baldwin
VALENCIA, Spain - Kimi Raikkonen's Formula 1 comeback picked up speed on Monday when the Finn got back behind
the wheel of a two-year-old Renault GP car at the
Valencia circuit in eastern Spain
The 'Iceman', 2007 World champion with Ferrari and winner of
18 races in his time with the Italian team and McLaren, is
returning to F1 for the 2012 season after two years in the World Rally championship.
'NICE TO GET BACK'
Lotus, formerly Renault, said the
32-year-old intended to drive as many laps as possible in the two
days in Valencia to become acquainted with his new team and to
re-acclimatise himself with an F1 car.
The team issued a picture of Raikkonen, who last drove an F1 car in 2009, on his first lap in the R30 - painted in
Lotus's black-and-gold livery - at the Ricardo Tormo track.
"It was nice to get back in the car," Raikkonen, who will be
one of six champions on the grid this season, told Sky Sports
TV at the circuit. "It's been quite a few years so it takes a little while to get used to it but the
main driving, braking, turning and normal things don't take
many laps.
"Learning about the car, the team, and
tyres and everything, that will take time."
Raikkonen's new Lotus will be launched on the team's
website (www.lotusf1team.com) on February 5 before the first
official test of the season at the Jerez track in southern Spain
starts on February 7.
Teams are not allowed to test up-to-date cars outside of
official sessions which meant Raikkonen could drive only an
older machine using demonstration tyres. The season will start in
Australia on March 18.