Lotus F1 boss Gerard Lopez has set his team a bold objective for this season: finish in the top three of the Constructors’ championship table this year and end the season on the same level as the best teams.
Last season Lotus ended up fourth after a strong year, particularly with Kimi Raikkonen, who was third in the Drivers’ standings ahead of both McLaren drivers.
But if their other driver Romain Grosjean had been more consistent they might have gone some way towards bridging the 75 point gap to McLaren. The Frenchman scored just 96 points compared to his team mate’s 207.
But Lopez, who owns the team 100% via his Genii Capital investment company, told Gazzetta dello Sport that the team proved several things in 2012,
“The quality of the drivers; the speed of Grosjean; the development push, which meant that we arrived at the last race in our best shape; the confirmation that for the second year in a row we were able to build a competitive car. If we can optimise these four things we’ll be at 100%.”
At the launch of the E20 in February last year Lopez said the objective was, “to bring the car up to the front of the pack, probably trying to aim for fourth as a reasonable goal for this season.”
Lopez is proud of the performance Raikkonen put in last year, particularly as many people told him that the Finn would be unmotivated,
“That makes me smile,” he said. “I was sure it would be like this, Raikkonen put in a great work load to compliment his talent and the results are the fruit of that. Here he feels like he is being used for what’s most important and for the rest of the time he is free. He’s found a balance. I speak to him every week and he feels good. He has enthusiasm and desire. I want drivers, not robots.”
As for Grosjean, Lopez defends his driver whose wildness led to him sitting out the Italian Grand Prix after a ban was imposed, but adds, “There were other drivers who had more reprimands than him..but he paid the price for the others. However he showed he’s quick. I’m expecting a lot from him this year.”
The final note is on the rumours around Lopez wanting to sell the team. He says, “We (Genii Capital) won it 100%. But we’ve always said that if there are any investors who want to get involved with shares, we are ready. But I have no intention of selling the team, because it’s a fantastic way to develop our business. With the sponsors we talk not only about their place on the car, but also about wider business activities.”
thanks Boudica! i'm really waiting to see Gro's performance this year.....there's nothing telling me he'll keep his speed while being more careful and focused on other cars as well...he's sure lucky to be given another chance.. and no rookie stuff anymore
Zitat von Olgathanks Boudica! i'm really waiting to see Gro's performance this year.....there's nothing telling me he'll keep his speed while being more careful and focused on other cars as well...he's sure lucky to be given another chance.. and no rookie stuff anymore
I agree with you totally! " title="hug" /> No rookie stuff! " title="nono" />
Zitat von Olgathanks Boudica! i'm really waiting to see Gro's performance this year.....there's nothing telling me he'll keep his speed while being more careful and focused on other cars as well...he's sure lucky to be given another chance.. and no rookie stuff anymore
He is really lucky people have lost their seats for much less. That being said I think he will improve this year, it is the law of averages he cant really do much worse then last time and he is more experienced now. The only thing for Grosjean is he already 27 I dont think he will improve much after this season. But it sounds like Lotus are really giving him a lot of support they are talking more about Grosjean then Kimi, they obviously wanted to show the F1 media that they are behind him 100%, the boost in confidence might also help him.
I must say I am still a bit cynical now that the new year has started and the slate has been cleaned in the teammate battle, Lopez and Boullier will always have a financial investment in Grosjean, and they obviously really want him to do well. I hope it is not a situation where Kimi has to prove himself over and over to the team. Although I will try to be less suspicious this year.
Zitat von Olgathanks Boudica! i'm really waiting to see Gro's performance this year.....there's nothing telling me he'll keep his speed while being more careful and focused on other cars as well...he's sure lucky to be given another chance.. and no rookie stuff anymore
He is really lucky people have lost their seats for much less. That being said I think he will improve this year, it is the law of averages he cant really do much worse then last time and he is more experienced now. The only thing for Grosjean is he already 27 I dont think he will improve much after this season. But it sounds like Lotus are really giving him a lot of support they are talking more about Grosjean then Kimi, they obviously wanted to show the F1 media that they are behind him 100%, the boost in confidence might also help him.
I must say I am still a bit cynical now that the new year has started and the slate has been cleaned in the teammate battle, Lopez and Boullier will always have a financial investment in Grosjean, and they obviously really want him to do well. I hope it is not a situation where Kimi has to prove himself over and over to the team. Although I will try to be less suspicious this year.
100% right...the article also gave me the impression they talk a lot about gro... " title="roll" /> but i wont let it spoil my mood. i'm always an optimist in believing the righteous people and good things prevail over crap at the end
You were right D, he did said: "now, the same people who spread the word that Kimi was unmotivaded are the ones telling me they knew he would be strong. That cracks me up" (or something like that...)
ZitatLotus atmosphere helped Raikkonen shine, according to Gerard Lopez Monday, January 7th 2013, 14:35 GMT
Raikkonen has been instrumental in Lotus's return to formLotus owner Gerard Lopez believes Kimi Raikkonen managed to deliver so much for the team last year because it gave him the atmosphere he needed to thrive.
Lopez is convinced that Raikkonen dug deep to get the best out of himself, even though from the outside it was not always obvious.
"Everyone who had muttered that he wasn't motivated now comes around to tell me they knew Kimi was still super strong," said Lopez in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
"It amuses me. I knew it would have ended up this way. Raikkonen has added hard work to his talent, and the results are the fruits of this cocktail."
When asked if Raikkonen was doing so well simply because of the freedom Lotus had given him, Lopez said: "It's not just the freedom. Raikkonen in Lotus feels utilised for what's most important, while he is free for everything else. He has found balance.
"Keep him under control? Not even in my dreams. I talk to him every week and he feels good, he is enthusiastic and charged up. I want drivers, not robots."
Lopez has also expressed his full support for Romain Grosjean, whom he reckons was unfairly criticised at times because of his involvement in a number of early race accidents.
"Romain didn't do all the mess he's been accused of," he said. "They [the critics] exaggerated on his account: in 2012 there were four drivers who were reprimanded more often than he was, however they were able to take part in every race.
"Grosjean instead was banned for the Italian GP. He paid for many others. But he has always shown he is quick. I expect a lot of him this year."
You were right D, he did said: "now, the same people who spread the word that Kimi was unmotivaded are the ones telling me they knew he would be strong. That cracks me up" (or something like that...)
thanks guys!
by the way, i read somewhere Honeywell was to be confirmed but it was not yet, was it? " title="dunno" />
Grosjean, Raikkonen to share new car testing Romain Grosjean hints at a January launch for the next Lotus F1 challenger as he looks ahead to a cleaner 2013 campaign. Romain Grosjean has revealed that he and Lotus team-mate Kimi Raikkonen will get an equal crack at developing the Enstone team's new F1 contender once pre-season testing gets underway next month.
Inadvertently confirming that Lotus will likely unveil the car before the end of January, the Frenchman admitted that he was looking forward to getting a head start on what could be a crucial campaign after the criticism he attracted in 2012. Three four-day test sessions are slated for Jerez and Barcelona before the first race in Australia, beginning at the start of February.
“The next few weeks for me will be intense training, with the presentation of the new car at the end of the month,” the 26-year old told French sports programme Stade2, “Then I will have six days of testing in February [before] the beginning of the season in March.”
Grosjean was again asked about the problems he endured in his first season back in the top flight, with a series of first lap incidents culminating in him being suspended for the Italian Grand Prix. The 2011 GP2 Series champion – who was slated by Mark Webber after a subsequent clash at Suzuka – has already admitted that he was trying to hard to claim his first F1 victory, but insists that he will be taking a more measured approach this time around.
“I do not think winning at all costs is the goal, because the dream is to become world champion one day,” he conceded, “Of course, it is true that you have to win races to be champion, but I must be careful not to mistake the goal.
“That's what cost me the nickname 'first lap nutcase' last year, but even that must be taken in context. Mark said it straight out of the car in Japan, with all the adrenaline of the race still inside him. I apologised which is the most I can do.
“I am not crazy, I am aware of the risks and I have worked hard to correct my mistakes. Over the last five races, I didn't have any other problems and there is no reason to believe that I will have anymore [in 2013].”
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Mon Jan 07, 2013 12:54 pm
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