Gerard Lopez: 'Lotus atmosphere helped Kimi Raikkonen to shine'

Lotus owner Gerard Lopez has said Kimi Raikkonen delivered for the team last season because 'it gave him the atmosphere to thrive'.

Raikkonen finished third in the 2012 Formula 1 drivers' championship and Lopez believes the 33-year-old driver dug deep to produce his best last year.

"Everyone who had muttered that he wasn't motivated now comes around to tell me they knew Kimi was still super strong," Lopez told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It amuses me. I knew it would have ended up this way. Raikkonen has added hard work to his talent, and the results are the fruits of this cocktail.

"Raikkonen in Lotus feels utilised for what's most important, while he is free for everything else. He has found balance."

Raikkonen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November.