Kimi Raikkonen did grab many headlines this season except when he told his team that he knew what he was doing over the radio, but for a guy who had not been in Formula 1 for two seasons, he managed to finish third in the World Drivers' Championship, an impressive feat. Raikkonen had one win and seven total podiums last season. He predicts that next season could be even stronger for the LotusLotusUnited Kingdom, 1952 > present68 models
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team because he knows the team better now, and they understand him. 

"We scored a lot of points but we know if we could have started the year stronger then probably we would still have been in the championship," said Raikkonen. 

He was seventh, fifth and 14th in the first three grands prix respectively but came back with a second place finish in the Bahrain Grand Prix. Romain Grosjean, his teammate, retired from the first two races. It is realistic to consider that if Grosjean had not retired from seven races last season, Lotus would have challenged McLarenMcLarenUnited Kingdom, 1963 > present92 models
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for third place in the World Constructors' Championship. 

"I know the team next year, I know the business, so it should be an easier start for us," he said.

Raikkonen likes racing for Lotus. The team has been consistent through the season, and the entire team in involved in the car's performance. 

"I always said this team is a bit different from the others I have raced before. It is all about the racing and less the politics, and it is a good place to be," he said. 

Lotus needs to improve the car for next season. While it was good enough to score one win and nine podiums, it made the team the best of the middle pack teams. MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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will be pushing hard next year with Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel, and FerrariFerrariItaly, 1947 > present233 models
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is building a new, state-of-the-art wind tunnel during the off season that should boost performance. The performance separating the cars could be even tighter than this year. 

"First though you have to build the car...," said Raikkonen. 

Source: Autosport