Romain Grosjean has admitted he is not sure if Lotus' money problems have been solved. The Enstone based team had been delaying signing its preferred option to replace the disgruntled Kimi Raikkonen - Nico Hulkenberg - until the money from the much-vaunted 'Quantum' investment came through. Ultimately, while re-signing the impressive Frenchman Grosjean, Lotus announced on Friday that his new teammate will be Pastor Maldonado. The press release made no mention of the Venezuelan's backing, but it is well known that he brings around EUR […]

Romain Grosjean has named Nico Hulkenberg as his ideal new teammate at Lotus for 2014. As it stands, even Grosjean's place at the Enstone based team is not guaranteed, even though he said bosses are happy with his performance. Grosjean told RMC Sport: "It is a very good moment where everything is going pretty well. The car is good and I feel good. "I feel good here but I think they (Lotus) are trying to solve the financial trouble and it puts everything else on […]

Kimi Raikkonen may have returned to Ferrari to finish his Formula One career with a final challenge, according to Lotus team boss Eric Boullier. When Wednesday's news broke, Lotus admitted on Twitter that losing the Finn "hurts a little" -- the quote was attached to a bizarre photo of forceful copulation between two rabbits. But team boss Boullier insists the Enstone based team is not "bitter". In fact, the Frenchman said he understands Raikkonen's decision. "You know, we remain a medium-sized team and there are […]

Nico Hulkenberg's manager has expressed disappointment with how Ferrari broke the bad news to the German driver this week. It has emerged that Hulkenberg was seriously considered by the Maranello based team as the replacement for Felipe Massa. But when Ferrari ultimately signed Raikkonen, the Italian squad let Hulkenberg know in the form of a mere text message, the German driver's manager Werner Heinz has revealed. "After two months of negotiations, I expected at least a phone call," he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. […]

Amid suggestions Red Bull is preparing a 2014 contract for Daniel Ricciardo, Kimi Raikkonen's manager insists the Finn is still in the running. "The facts, or what I can tell you, is that an agreement has not been reached at this time. "Negotiations and discussions are still underway," manager Steve Robertson, who reportedly had a meeting with Lotus' Eric Boullier in Hungary on Friday, told the Finnish broadcaster MTV3. He added: "I can't tell you much about the details, but things are still open. I […]

Sebastien Buemi, a recent Toro Rosso driver and now Red Bull reserve, has tipped the world champions to sign Kimi Raikkonen for 2014. After Mark Webber announced his impending switch to Le Mans, Red Bull narrowed down the shortlist for the Australian's successor to just three names -- Raikkonen, Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne. But even Ricciardo, the most consistent Toro Rosso performer of 2013, does not expect to get the nod. "I would expect a world champion team to take a world champion driver," […]

Romain Grosjean may have rescued his Formula One career on Sunday by returning to the podium at the Nurburgring. Having failed to score a single point since his podium in Bahrain, the Frenchman was the subject of rumours Lotus might be preparing to replace him with Nico Hulkenberg. Indeed, it is believed Hulkenberg has terminated his contract with the financially-troubled Sauber, with Bild newspaper saying the German has even had a Lotus seat fitting. Frenchman Grosjean, however, said he never doubted himself. "Not really," he […]

Jean-Eric Vergne has joined the race to replace Mark Webber at Red Bull next year, after putting in eye-catching performances for the energy drink company's junior team Toro Rosso in Monaco and Canada. Previously, it was believed the Frenchman's teammate Daniel Ricciardo was the more likely of the duo to be in the running to partner world champion Sebastian Vettel next year. But in Canada, 23-year-old Vergne finished sixth, and he was quick to point out that it was Toro Rosso's best result since Vettel's […]

Romain Grosjean sounds supportive of F1's move to enhance its penalty system. Last year, the Frenchman became the first F1 driver in years to serve a race ban, following a string of first-lap crashes. He admitted to RMC Sport it may seem "ironic" that he therefore supports a system that could lead directly to more race bans. It is reported that errant drivers will earn 'demerit'-style points against their FIA super license for on and off-track indiscretions, leading to race bans. Grosjean said: "If there […]

Paul Hembery has admitted Pirelli might change tack after Sunday's Bahrain grand prix, in the wake of heavy criticism of its 2013 tyres. Mercedes' Niki Lauda, who like Red Bull has been complaining the loudest about the fragile tyres and their impact on F1 this year, said in China that Pirelli has agreed to supply more durable compounds for Barcelona and beyond. Hembery, Pirelli's F1 boss, acknowledged the legendary triple world champion's words, but insists the Italian marque "needs these four races" at the start […]

Lotus has played down reports Kimi Raikkonen could be set to jump ship to Red Bull for 2014. Team owner Gerard Lopez told France's RMC Sport that he thinks the rumours connecting the reigning world champions with the Finn are a diversionary ploy by Red Bull. He said Lotus would like to keep the 2007 world champion, who is currently just three points behind Sebastian Vettel for the drivers' title lead. "Kimi is a driver we appreciate greatly," said Lopez. "I think he also appreciates […]

Lotus boss Eric Boullier has backed Romain Grosjean to bounce back from a bad start to the 2013 season. Last year, while often showing lightning speed, Swiss-born Grosjean became known as F1's 'first lap nutcase', following a series of incidents that culminated in the first race ban issued by the FIA for many years. Lotus, however, gave the 26-year-old another chance, but so far in 2013 - whilst keeping out of trouble - Frenchman Grosjean has been struggling for pace. At the same time, in […]