On November 4, 2012, Kimi Räikkönen claimed victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix driving for Lotus, marking his first win since returning to Formula 1. The Finn held off a charging Sebastian Vettel, who started from the pit lane after a qualifying issue and finished third behind Fernando Alonso's Ferrari.
Räikkönen's Lotus E20 proved strong on tire management, allowing him to control the race from the front. Vettel's remarkable recovery drive from the back of the grid showcased the Red Bull's pace, but he ran out of laps to challenge for the win.
The result extended Räikkönen's comeback season and gave Lotus their first victory since the team's rebranding from Renault.
