Lotus team principal Eric Boullier has once again hailed the environment at Enstone, saying it is playing a major role in Kimi Raikkonen's performances.

Raikkonen made a successful comeback to F1 last year as he won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and finished third in the Drivers' Championship. He carried that form over to this season as he came from seventh on the grid to win the opening race in Australia.

Boullier believes the laidback Finn is benefitting from the relaxed vibe at the squad.

"Well he's smiling more! Kimi is Kimi, he builds himself up - he had a strong season last year and he ended it even more strongly than he started," he is quoted as saying on the official Formula 1 website.

"He's starting this season as he finished it last year, so he will keep building on that.

"I don't think there is anyone on earth who can tell Kimi what to do, so I'm not going to start!

"It's true that the environment we have in Enstone is different and we encourage everyone to be creative and to be themselves - and that seems much better for everyone. For Kimi we do this as much as possible by limiting what he hates."

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