Lotus Renault GP reportedly chose Grosjean
Romain Grosjean could sign his contract with Lotus Renault GP in the coming days, according to an Italian newspaper, and thus team up with Kimi Räikkönen in 2012. It is now official, Grosjean was confirmed as a driver on the morning of Friday, December 9.
Who among Grosjean, Petrov, Senna, and perhaps even Sutil, will join Kimi Räikkönen at Lotus Renault GP in 2012? The question is on everyone’s lips since the official announcement of the 2007 world champion’s return to competition and could find an answer in the coming days. Indeed, Italiaracing.net assures that, according to French sources in Italianracing’s possession, and more than tangible, Romain Grosjean, GP2 Series champion, will support Kimi Räikkönen at Lotus Renault GP.
The Italian site further indicates that, although no official announcement has been made yet, the Franco-Swiss driver is expected to sign his contract in the coming days. It adds that the decision would favor Grosjean due to his recent performances in tests, his development as a driver, but also due to a whole range of commercial considerations. The current reserve driver of the British team could indeed bring a personal sponsor, while this choice would mark a clear evolution in the Lotus team’s recruitment policy by prioritizing technical and sporting criteria over commercial ones.
Indeed, it was Vitaly Petrov who seemed to be in pole position in the race for a seat with Lotus Renault Grand Prix, with the British team even giving him a 10-day deadline to decide if he would stay in Enstone. However, recently, several sources indicated a potential move closer between the Russian driver and the Marussia team, which will race under the Russian flag in 2012, where Petrov could possibly find a new opportunity in place of Timo Glock, who is under contract until 2014.
Romain Grosjean, currently testing with BMW in DTM, could join Charles Pic and expand the French delegation on the 2012 starting grids. Present in Düsseldorf last weekend for the Race of Champions, Grosjean assured he was on the list and admitted that his mood could change from day to day: « Do you want me to be optimistic or realistic? It changes from one day to the next, it depends on my mood… If you don’t believe in it, then you’re not trying. »
The native of Geneva had also shown his enthusiasm at the prospect of teaming up with Kimi Räikkönen: “I dream of F1 and I would really like to return, and I think that being with Kimi would be something quite special for my career and my experience.” A dream that could soon become reality, according to *Italiaracing*.
