Team profile: Lotus

Lotus re-established themselves as a top team in 2012 after a few uncertain seasons.

This is the same team that won world titles with Michael Schumacher as Benetton and Fernando Alonso as Renault and the core of the technical expertise remains.

Lotus facts and stats

  • Nationality: French
  • Headquarters: Enstone, UK
  • Debut season: 1977
  • Drivers: Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean
  • Test/reserve driver: Jerome D'Ambrosio
  • Team principal: Eric Boullier
  • Technical director: James Allison
  • Engine: Renault V8
  • 2012 position: 4th

It showed with a usable, quick car that Kimi Raikkonen drove to great effect to finish third in the 2012 drivers' championship. The only disappointment was that to wait until Abu Dhabi to claim victory with a car that, at times, was the fastest of all in race trim was far too long.

With stability in the regulations and the same driver line-up of the wise, experienced Raikkonen and the fast if wild Romain Grosjean, there is every reason to believe that Lotus will be strong contenders again in 2013.