Ice-man Kimi Raikkonen will be back in the building next year and he has chosen to sit in the Lotus Renault GP office.
The 2007 World Champion left F1 in 2009 to pursue his interests in rallying and now he is back to Formula One.
Lotus Renault has managed to snare quite a driver and this can only be good news for them.
With Mercedes Petronas having Michael Schumacher on their roster and Lotus calling on the talents of another world champion, the only thing missing for the Malaysian-linked efforts in Formula one is a champion or at least a few wins next year.
Press Release after the jump
PRESS RELEASE
Kimi Räikkönen back in F1 with LRGP in 2012
Enstone, Tuesday 29th November 2011
Lotus Renault GP is pleased to announce that Kimi Räikkönen will race for the team next season. The 2007 World Champion, who left Formula 1 at the end of 2009 to pursue a career in rallying, has decided to make a comeback at the pinnacle of single-seater racing. He has now signed a two-year agreement with Lotus Renault GP.
Kimi's F1 roll of honour includes 18 wins, 62 podiums and 16 pole positions. This experience and success is sure to help the team make a step forward next year. The 32-year-old Finn's commitment indeed makes for a vote of confidence in Lotus Renault GP, demonstrating the team's determination and new philosophy for the seasons ahead.
Kimi Räikkönen: "I'm delighted to be coming back to Formula 1 after a two-year break, and I'm grateful to Lotus Renault GP for offering me this opportunity. My time in the World Rally Championship has been a useful stage in my career as a driver, but I can't deny the fact that my hunger for F1 has recently become overwhelming. It was an easy choice to return with Lotus Renault GP as I have been impressed by the scope of the team's ambition. Now I'm looking forward to playing an important role in pushing the team to the very front of the grid."
Gérard Lopez, Genii Capital, Chairman: "All year long, we kept saying that our team was at the start of a brand new cycle. Backstage we've been working hard to build the foundations of a successful structure and to ensure that we would soon be able to fight at the highest level. Kimi's decision to come back to Formula 1 with us is the first step of several announcements which should turn us into an even more serious contender in the future. Of course, we are all looking forward to working with a world champion. On behalf of our staff, I'd like to welcome Kimi to Enstone, a setting that has always been known for its human approach to Formula 1."
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