Former Formula One race winner John Watson believes that the returning Kimi Raikkonen faces a "difficult" challenge in getting back up to speed in the sport, but says that he is hopeful that the Finn can win races again.
Raikkonen will return from the F1 wilderness with the Lotus team for 2012, having signed a new two year contract with the squad.
The Finn was widely renowned as being one of the most talented drivers on the grid during his previous time in F1 from 2001 to 2009, but faces a race against time to get back up to speed for the new season.
And Watson believes that Raikkonen will struggle to get immediately back on the pace, much as fellow recent F1 returnee Michael Schumacher has done.
But Watson added that he was hopeful that Raikkonen would make a success of his comeback.
"I'm a big Michael fan...but it has been a struggle for many reasons, and I'm sure Kimi will have to deal with those reasons," he rambled at the Press Association this week.
"There's probably a lot he wants to prove, but will do it in a Kimi way, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on."
He added: "Tyres, aerodynamics and technology have moved on since Kimi was last in the sport in 2009, so it will be difficult.
"But Kimi is the kind of guy who is ostensibly laid-back, so will take it in his stride."
He said that the main issue for the new Lotus/Raikkonen partnership would be down to whether the Finn returned with the same commitment he had earlier in his career.
"I'd love to see [Lotus/Renault] winning again, and to see Kimi Raikkonen in a competitive Formula One car will be very exciting," he gushed.
"I just hope his commitment will be at the level when we saw him at his best in his early days in Formula One, and not as in his last season with Ferrari."
Raikkonen left the sport after losing his Ferrari drive to Fernando Alonso at the end of 2009.
Since then, the Finn has competed in the World Rally Championship with limited success, and also took part in a number of NASCAR races in 2011 before confirming his F1 return.
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