Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen has paid tribute to his team for their "perfect strategy" during the Australian Grand Prix last weekend.

The Finnish racer claimed first placein the season opener in Melbourne, ahead of last year's pace setters Fernando Alonso (second) and Sebastian Vettel (third).

The 33-year-old believes that Lotus were well ahead of the chasing pack.

"I had a good feeling that we would be OK with the tyres after practice," Raikkonen told the team website.

"The team got the strategy perfect. Apart from maybe Force India I don't think the others looked like they could do the same thing."

Next up is the Malaysian Grand Prix this Sunday.