Mika Hakkinen thinks his Finnish countryman could be the favourite for Monaco victory.
"Based on practice - looking at how the cars behaved and how the drivers were driving - I have the impression that Kimi has very good performance," the 1998 and 1999 world champion told Finnish broadcaster MTV3.
"I am quite certain," added Hakkinen, referring to Lotus’ prospects of fielding a potentially winning car in Monte Carlo.
Should Kimi Raikkonen or Lotus teammate Romain Grosjean win on Sunday, he will be the sixth winner for the sixth different constructor in the sixth race of 2012.
That would be unprecedented in the history of the sport.