Kimi Raikkonen believes Lotus are close to solving the power-steering problem that has hampered his Formula One comeback.
Although Raikkonen has scored 16 points to date in the first two races of the campaign, the Finn's results could have been better had it not been for steering problems.
The issues first came to light in qualifying for the Australian GP with the 2007 World Champ down in 17th place. Raikkonen, though, did work his way up to seventh, scoring his first points for Lotus.
The problem was a bit better at the following race in Malaysia where he started ninth after a gearbox issue saw him slapped with a five grid slot penalty. He finished P5.
"The E20 certainly feels good," Raikkonen said. "We're working to get the steering exactly right for me - and we're almost there.
"The speed in the car is good - and this applies to qualifying and race pace. It's been two frustrating races in terms of where we started.
"We shouldn't have started so far back in Australia, and the penalty for changing the gearbox before the Malaysian Grand Prix cost us finishing positions too, but that's motor racing."
Shedding more light on the power-steering problem that has been bothering the Finn, Lotus technical director James Allison said that while steps had been taken, the issue was by no means resolved.
"Unfortunately it is not a fix as simple as reversing the switches on the steering wheel!" Allison said.
"Our latest set-up now gives Kimi sufficient assistance in the high speed, high load corners, but we still have yet to give him a power-steering unit which offers the finesse he wants.
"We're making progress in this area, but the way Kimi drives the car is to find the limit on the front axle and then adjust the car very delicately around that limit; he can only do that if the steering is giving him exquisite feedback.
"We are working hard to provide him with perfect equipment so that he can deliver those last few tenths in qualifying."
