Kimi Räikkönen is confident that he and Lotus can make a stronger bid for title glory in 2013, having mathematically remained in the Drivers' fight until the 18th of 20 rounds this season. The Finn, who returned to the sport this year, picked up the team's sole victory of the campaign in Abu Dhabi and is targeting further success.
"We scored a lot of points but we know if we had started the year stronger then we would probably still have been in the championship (at the final race)," explained Räikkönen, who turned 33 in October. "I know the team now so it should be an easier start for us and hopefully we can build it up for next year."
Räikkönen added that the Lotus environment is much more suited to his relaxed personality, describing 'a good atmosphere' and 'less politics' at the outfit.
"There are always a lot of people who are involved," the former Sauber, McLaren and Ferrari driver said of his current surroundings. "It is team work; everybody tried to do the same thing, to do the best we can and I think it has been a good atmosphere.
"I have always said this team is a bit different from the others I have raced for before. It is all about the racing and less about the politics and it is a good place to be."
Having claimed top ten results in all races bar one, Räikkönen wound up third in the 2012 standings and 111 points ahead of eighth-placed team-mate Romain Grosjean.
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