The return of the Iceman

Tuesday, 24 January 2012 16:30

Kimi Raikonnen has marked his return to Formula 1 with his first testing laps for Lotus.

The Finnish 2007 world champion got behind the wheel of a 2010 specification Renault car at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit. His run in the older car, which was fitted with Pirelli’s demonstration tyres, was his first run in an F1 car since his last outing for Ferrari at the end of the 2009 season. He has since signed with Lotus on a two year contract, taking him to the end of the 2013 season. Raikkonen will get a chance to test this seasons Lotus at the first winter test at Jerez in February.

During the two years he has spent away from the sport, Raikkinen has dabbled in NASCAR trucks, driving for the NASCAR team Kyle Busch Motorsports, and rallying, competing in the World Rally Championship from 2009 to 2011. It seems that these formulas fed Raikkonen’s hunger for racing but did not fully satisfy him.

He said: “'I did some NASCAR last year and I really enjoyed competing against people again. It was then that I decided to do some racing again and F1 is the highest level of racing and where people want to be.”

Raikkonen’s return will see six world champions battling for supremacy on the grid this season. It will be interesting to observe how he copes with racing at the top again.

He has maintained his fitness, and competing in other racing series means that he won’t have lost his racing instincts, but things have changed in F1 since he left.

Raikkonen, like Michael Schumacher on his return to the sport, will have to get to grips with the new Pirelli tyre, which provide a challenge for all of the drivers. The tyres are not the only thing that has changed. Since 2010, the DRS wing has been introduced, as have changes to the nose and front wing, and specified weight distributions from front to rear.

Whether Raikkonen will be able to maintain his focus over the course of the upcoming season is another debatable point. Raikkonen’s racing on a good day is second to none. Who can forget his dash through the field at Suzuka in 2005 from 17th on the grid to an unforgettable win, overtaking race leader Giancarlo Fisichella on the final lap? However, he does have a tendency to seemingly lose interest, which results in lacklustre drives. Getting to grips with a changed F1 and a longer and more intensive racing calendar, should maintain Kimi’s interest, and all that remains is to wait for the start of the season, and the return of the Iceman. By Jessica Murphy

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