Raikkonen to make F1 return with Lotus

Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will make his return to Formula One in 2012 after signing a two-year contract with Lotus Renault, the team said on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old Finn won the world championship with Ferrari in 2007 but quit Formula One two years later and switched to rallying.

"I'm looking forward to playing an important role in pushing the team to the very front of the grid," Raikkonen said in a statement published on the Lotus Renault website.

The team will race under the name Lotus from next season.

Raikkonen said the two years he spent in rallying had been useful for him as a driver, but that he had an overwhelming hunger to return to Formula One.