Kimi Raikkonen today returned to the cockpit of a Formula 1 car. The former world champion has begun a two-day test in a Renault R30 from 2010 to reacclimatise himself to Formula 1. Kimi adapted quickly to his surrounding but thinks it will take some time to fully return.
It was revealed that Raikkonen would be the one to test the new R32 on February 7th at Jerez while the team will launch the new car two days prior on their website – www.lotusf1team.com (http://www.lotusf1team.com) – at 1700 CET.
Despite the car being two years old and running on Pirrelli demonstration rubber, initial feedback suggested that Raikkonen was familiarizing himself with the car very quickly.
After the test, Raikkonen spoke to Sky Sports News.
“It was nice to get back in the car,” explained Raikkonen. “It was quite a few years since I have driven last time, [and] of course it takes a little while to get used to it. But the main driving, braking, turning, that doesn’t take many laps. But of course to start learning about the car and team and tyres, that will take time.”
(http://i.imgur.com/dzbju.jpg)
Raikkonen was asked about his endeavours in the World Rally Championship and whether he had expected to be back in F1, he said: “Not really. I didn’t have any plans for the future.
“There were different choices to do this year and I really wanted to do racing. We did some NASCAR stuff last year and I enjoyed it a lot, racing against other people.
“That is where I decided to do racing, and [if you are] doing racing, F1 is the highest level and probably where most people want to be. I found a good chance to come back and do racing with Lotus.”
Initial impressions from the team have been very strong, and appear that Raikkonen is very eager to repay the team for the opportunity they have given him. While it may take some time to get a feel for the tyres, there is no doubt that his speed is still evident.
Kimi Raikkonen Test Lotus F1 at Valencia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dBaiF5divQ#ws)
Komentari... Izvor: RaceDepartment (http://www.racedepartment.com/2012/01/raikkonen-tests-r30-renault/)