London - Arabstoday
WE already know Kimi Raikkonen won't be the slowest driver in Formula One this year – and now we know he won't be the smelliest either. The Lotus Renault driver showed off the team's 2012 car featuring new backing from leading deodorant and shampoo brands. Logos of Clear anti-dandruff shampoo and Rexona, the makers of Sure deodorant, were plastered over the E20 as it was launched at Lotus's Enstone HQ. Raikkonen aims to clean up in the car – and used the occasion to rubbish sceptics who believe his enthusiasm for F1 may have been lost forever. The 2007 world champion seemed less than totally interested in his last year at the top level, when he was with Ferrari in 2009. Since then two so-so years in the World Rally Championship have done little to enhance his reputation. But he said: "There's always talk about my motivation, written by people who don't know me and couldn't have an idea on how strong my motivation is. "If I didn't feel I had the motivation, I would stop. I've never had issues with it." The Finn even insisted he drove some of his best races in 2009 and was "very happy" with his performance. Raikkonen took the wraps off the E20 with team-mate Romain Grosjean, boss Eric Boullier and reserve driver Jerome D'Ambrosio. He will start testing the car, another to feature a "stepped" nose in response to F1's new rules, at Jerez this week. Raikkonen said he is not feeling pressure to win again – as long as he knows he is giving his all. He added: "I think people expect things from me. But as long as I know I'm giving 100 per cent and I'm happy with my driving, then I'm happy."