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Raikkonen has improved since 2009 - Domenicali

ESPN Staff
September 12, 2013 « Lotus to make driver decision 'shortly' | Track changes at Singapore »
Kimi Raikkonen won the world championship with Ferrari in 2007 © Sutton Images
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Kimi Raikkonen returns to Ferrari a stronger driver than when he left in 2009, according to team principal Stefano Domenicali.

Since Raikkonen left the team he has had two years out of Formula One before returning with Lotus at the start of 2012. Last season he worked with technical director James Allison - who has recently started work at Ferrari - and Domenicali said Allison had noticed Raikkonen's technical feedback improving during their time together.

"As for the technical side of things, not only do we know full well how much Kimi can contribute at an important time like this, when the technical framework is changing so significantly, but we also have first hand information from James Allison, as to how much the Finn has also progressed in this area over the past two years," he said.

Domenicali also believes Raikkonen's persona will fit in well at Ferrari once again.

"We worked with Kimi for three years from 2007 to 2009 and we never had a problem. Sure, everyone has their own ways and you can't expect a Finn to start telling jokes in Italian or playing the clown! Honestly, I think the combination of Fernando's expressive and passionate Latin character and the cool style, to call it that, of someone like Kimi, seems to appeal to many, including the youngsters and our partners are also in agreement with this."

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