Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen has the abilities and the car to claim the F1 championship title this season, according to Mika Salo.
Raikkonen finished second in Bahrain, with Lotus team-mate Romain Grosjean also impressing one spot behind.
Salo, who raced in F1 between 1994-2002, believes his Finnish compatriot can push Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and McLaren's Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton for top spot in 2012.
The 45-year-old told Speed TV: "The most consistent team has been Lotus.
"They've been fast at every circuit so far. In that sense, Kimi's situation looks very good.
"I would not exclude it at all that he will be fighting at the very end of the Championship, if Lotus is able to maintain the pace of development."
