Kimi Raikkonen returns to F1 with Lotus F1 Team

[Suomileijona]

Kimiteamlotus, thank yo very much for the pictures!

[reppo]

http://www.ts.fi/moottoriurheilu/f1/325 ... renvuosina (in Finnish)

According to the race engineer Räikkönen's speed is still the same as in McLaren

F1 | Turun Sanomat 1:48

The afternoon tropical downpour has just soaked paddock of Sepang Grand Prix. The canopy of Lotus team area is bending from the weight of the water. Under it Kimi Räikkönen's race engineer Mark Slade is taking cover from the rain.

Having worked with four world champions in his career the British engineer's body language says it all: the team is doing well - what ever the weather is, good or bad.

Raikkonen came back to F1 tracks from two years rally adventure. How different Kimi came back to work with Slade?

- No differences in Kimi now and Kimi, which I worked with in McLaren. Old Kimi was great and this Kimi is still as great, Slade touts.

- Lets just put gloves on, and get to work: there comes the same exact feedback, we go hard all the time, the driver is always cool and can handle just about any situation which occurs in the race.

The time update went wrong

Melbourne race was affected by Räikkönen's visor problem of the helmet.

- Kimi had problems with the visor. He changed it. Our schedule was very tight, and there was not enough time to change the visor and make the laps, which was needed.

- Unfortunately Kimi had an error on the lap, which would have been good enough to take to Q2. I had not updated the amount of time, what was still left. Kimi slowed down after the error and we missed one lap. It was a very stupid situation, Slade said.

Lotus-Renault's E20 car has exceeded all expectations.

- I am really impressed with the car. I think the whole team is pleasantly surprised by its competitiveness. You always hope to get a fast car on the track. In tests it was fast, but we approached the opening race so that there we'll see where we are. In Australia we still had the same great speed as in tests.

- I hope it will remain the same in future races. Development at least is happening in the factory. Kimi came back from rally and Romain Grosjean is starting his career again. This is really super for both of them - what a great opportunity to make results! The whole team is excited about it, Slade considered.

- Kimi's race pace was right and so would have been qualifying speed too. We just didn't get to show it in Melbourne.

The straight speed of Lotus is very good and the car also works very well in fast corners, which there are a lot in Sepang.

Turun Sanomat, Kuala Lumpur

HEIKKI KULTA

Facts:
Racing engineer Mark Sladen drivers and teams:

1998-2001 McLaren: Mika Häkkinen

2002-06 McLaren: Kimi Raikkonen

2007 McLaren: Fernando Alonso

2008-09 McLaren: Heikki Kovalainen

2010 Renault: Vitaly Petrov

2011 Mercedes Michael Schumacher

2012 Lotus: Kimi Raikkonen

[reppo]

Kimi Räikkönen @ Lotus' Meet-n-Greet session for the Malaysian F1 (2012)

Kimi talks to the press at a meet-n-greet brunch alongside Proton's MD, Datuk Syed Zainal. Kimi talks about the mind-set he has while driving, F1 technology and even his recent meeting with the Stig.

[reppo]

Sky Sports Formula 1 2012 - 02 Malaysian GP - Raikkonen frustrated

Kimi Raikkonen is downbeat after his practice round in Malaysia.

[Mar]

Add to that the 5-place grid penalty he's getting because of the gearbox.

Yep, I think he's not too happy right now.

PS. He seems pretty frustrated with the traffic thing. I don't understand it, Lotus has not managed even once to send him on clear air during practice in Australia or here.

[reppo]

Kimi Raikkonen Top Gear behind the scenes

[reppo]

Add to that the 5-place grid penalty he's getting because of the gearbox.

Yep, I think he's not too happy right now.

PS. He seems pretty frustrated with the traffic thing. I don't understand it, Lotus has not managed even once to send him on clear air during practice in Australia or here.

They still can't fix the steering. If they get that right and Kimi get into top ten in qualifying (with the penalty), he still have a change to get podium in the race. If it rains on Sunday then anything can happen in the race. Hopefully they'll fix the KERS. It was in Sepang where his KERS short circuited in the practice and the cockpit was filled with smoke. In the race he had KERS problem again and his race was ruined. Lets hope that doesn't happen this time

[donald29]

Lol @ that Raikkonen Angry Birds avatar.

[reppo]

Lol @ that Raikkonen Angry Birds avatar.

I think it's cool and somehow the nose remains this year's F1 cars

[sleenster]

Even with a grid penalty Malaysia should be easier to overtake than in Melbourne if the car is fast.

Kimi is still moaning about the power steering
http://www.lotusf1team.com/Kimi-Raikkon ... there.html

[Mar]

Even with a grid penalty Malaysia should be easier to overtake than in Melbourne if the car is fast.

Kimi is still moaning about the power steering
http://www.lotusf1team.com/Kimi-Raikkon ... there.html

How interesting, they have taken away his statements about not getting a single lap without traffic

[reppo]

Kind of confusing In some news Kimi was frustrated and the steering is bad and there are problems and so on. In other news the day was okay and the steering is not an issue and it looks relatively good and so on. How good or bad E20 really is now Anyway if it is a dry/wet/dry/wet something race anything can happen and I still believe Kimi will get P2 finish regardless of the penalty

[phil1993]

Very good analysis from Peter Windsor, as ever
http://peterwindsor.com/2012/03/23/note ... ving-2012/

[kimiteamlotus]

Kimiteamlotus, thank yo very much for the pictures!

You're welcome Suomileijona.
Thanks reppo and Mar for all these informations.

[Kriss]

The "Kimi luck" continues
It will be a very very interesting qualifying and race