Kimi Raikkonen must deliver now that he’s had time away from Formula 1 to refocus and come back stronger, that’s the view of Dany Bahar, Group Lotus CEO.
Raikkonen will make his return to F1 with Lotus (currently known as Renault) in 2012 after agreeing a two-year deal with the outfit. His return comes after a two year absence in the sport, he instead chose to compete in NASCAR and the WRC.
Despite this absence, Bahar is confident Raikkonen will adapt to the new regulations, though he admits signing the Finn was a ‘gamble’.
“It is always a big amount of money when you employ a former world champion,” said Bahar on Monday. “You also expect from an experienced world champion, although he has not driven now for two seasons, but he is still a world champion.
“Undoubtedly he has talent, and we just have to see how quickly he now copes with the new environment, new car, new tyres, new everything, and we hope he will do this very quickly.
“But he is not the kid any more he was in Sauber or McLaren. It’s a different time and he has to deliver. I think he realises that.”
Bahar compared Raikkonen’s comeback to that of Michael Schumacher, who retired in 2006 but returned with Mercedes GP in 2010 – a three year absence.
“Definitely it is a gamble with Kimi as well, but if you look at the development Michael has shown in the past six months, the tendency has been improvement from race to race.
“He has maybe taken two years, but we have the time for Kimi as well.”
