Kimi Raikkonen will be a much stronger driver in 2013 than he was during his comeback season for Lotus, reckons his team boss.

Lotus announced on Monday that Raikkonen had signed a fresh deal with the team that will keep him at Enstone until at least the end of next year.

Team boss Eric Boullier acknowledged to AUTOSPORT that Raikkonen had taken some time to get up to full speed this year, but he added that by next season the Finn will be back to his very best.
"I am more than happy that he is staying because that is always a bit of a gamble when someone comes back to F1," said Boullier in an exclusive interview.

"If it looked like it took him a while from the outside we don't believe it took him that long. And we believe next year will be much more rewarding in terms of points, because we have been through this learning stage this season.

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