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Kimi Raikkonen - Source: Photosport
Kimi Raikkonen's Formula One comeback picked up speed today when the Finn got back behind the wheel of a two-year-old Renault grand prix 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 Formula One this season after two years in the world rally championship.
Lotus, formerly Renault, said in a statement that the 32-year-old aimed to drive as many laps as possible in the two days in Valencia to get acquainted with his new team and reacclimatise himself with a Formula One car.
They issued a picture of Raikkonen, who last drove a Formula One 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 television at the circuit.
"It was quite a few years since I have driven last time, so of course it takes a little while to get used to it. But the main driving, braking, turning and normal things doesn't take many laps.
"Of course to start learning about the car and the team and tyres and everything, that will take time," he said.
Raikkonen's new Lotus car will be launched on the team's website on Feb. 5 before the first official test of the season at the Jerez track in southern Spain starts on Feb. 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 starts in Australia on March 18.
