Kimi Räikkönen is optimistic for 2013

Kimi Räikkönen is optimistic about his performance and that of his car for the next season. He bases this on his good results in 2012 to assert that the best is surely yet to come from his partnership with Lotus.

According to the Finn, the team still has the ability to improve to compete for the championship as early as next season: « I think it’s easier today than it was at the beginning of the year. And it will be even easier at the start of next season. We scored a lot of points during the season, but we’re aware that if we had started the year stronger, we would have been in contention for the championship until very late. Now I know the team and the company well. The start of next season will be better. »

If he can sometimes seem nonchalant, the 2007 World Champion is full of motivation, and his victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2012 leaves him wanting more: « He is sure that when you start to get good results, you want to do even better, and you expect even more. »

One thing is certain, Räikkönen feels very comfortable within the Lotus team, which suits him perfectly: « It’s a real team. Everyone is going in the same direction and doing their best. Plus, there is a very good atmosphere, which helps a lot. I’ve always said that this team is a bit different from the others I’ve raced for before. It’s all about racing and less about politics, and it’s a good place to be. »

But the confidence monster that the Finn can be was nonetheless shaken at the beginning of the season. Indeed, he admits to having had some doubts about his ability to give his all and reach his limits: « I never thought I could lose, but that it might be more difficult. Perhaps the big question mark was whether I could push as much to the limit as before, with a new team and new tires, those kinds of things that have changed. But from the first test, I felt comfortable with that. I was never worried about the race. »