The checkered flag came down over Kimi Raikkonen in Abu Dhabi as the Lotus Team's Formula One racer crossed the finish, proof positive that despite legal and financial difficulties, the Lotus Team is right on course to be a major contender in future races.

Kimi Raikkonen's victory in Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix shows that the Lotus team are serious Formula One contenders and should help them secure more backing, according to principal Eric Boullier.

Raikkonen, the 2007 champion with Ferrari, became the eighth driver to win a race this season when he triumphed under the floodlights at the Yas Marina circuit while Lotus were the sixth different team.

British-based Lotus were formerly Renault, the team that took Fernando Alonso to two titles, and before that the Benetton outfit that Michael Schumacher won his first two championships with from the same Enstone factory.

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