Raikkonen Determined to Prove Doubters Wrong

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Kimi Raikkonen on Thursday blasted critics who claim he'll struggle to recapture his world championship glory days when he returns to Formula One with Lotus this season.

The Finn won the 2007 world title before leaving for the world rally championship where he spent two years.

"There has been quite a bit of noise in the press about my comeback and there have been a lot of rumors," Raikkonen told the Lotus official website. "It has no effect on me.

"Sometimes you hear nonsense and sometimes you hear nice things. The main thing is that coming back is what I wanted and I have a good opportunity with the team so I'm happy.

"I have never really looked at what people say or think. I do my own thing and as long as I'm happy with it then that's the main thing for me."