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Last week, we asked you via Twitter and Facebook to submit any of your questions Eric Boullier.
Over the weekend of the Canadian Grand Prix, Auto123.com met with the Lotus team boss to answer them.
Question: Are you optimistic that Kimi will stay at Lotus for a few more years?
Eric Boullier: “Yes. Kimi is a priority for us. And yes, I am optimistic to see him stay with us.”
Q: Will Lotus give preferential treatment to Kimi who has the best chances to fight for the world championship?
Boullier: “We will continue to offer identical treatment to both drivers. However, priority will go to the driver who will be leading from the sporting perspective.”
Q: Since Mercedes had the chance to do a test with their 2013 car, will Lotus ask the FIA to do a similar one?
Boullier: “No, not at all. You don't change the rules during the season.”
Q: What's the state of the relations between Lotus and Robert Kubica who is currently benefitting from Citroen and Mercedes' motorsport commitments?
Boullier: “I've had a some contact with Robert through text messages but they've been pretty informal. Nothing more.”
Q: Why couldn't you just admit that the team needed money and that is the reason you chased out Nick Heidfeld, and not for underperformance as you spun to the media? Did the money Bruno [Senna] brought to the team simply go to buy out Nick's contract?
Boullier: “Not at all, however, I cannot say much about this because of the legal agreement we have with Nick. We used the Senna name to attract new sponsors to the team, but it's not for that reason that we released Nick, though. Bruno was our third driver at the time and it was just a logical and contractual step forward.”
Q: Who will be driving for Lotus next year?
Eric Boullier: “Our priority is to keep the same driver line-up.”
Q: Will you offer Mark Webber a contract for 2014?
Boullier: “No. Not at all.”
Q: Do you consider yourself one of the big teams, or a smaller one punching above its weight?
Boullier: “We have the tools and the technology to be one of the top teams. We will continue to develop -- step by step -- to become one of them.”
Q: When will you find a competent number 2 driver to pair with Kimi?
Boullier: “What do you mean by competent? Romain's speed has helped Kimi to raise his game.”
Q: What is your favourite Grand Prix moment, irrespective of whether it was in the past or the current era of Formula 1?
Boullier: “Without a doubt Abu Dhabi 2012 when Kimi won the race”.
Q: Which do you prefer; a pint of Black (Guinness) or a shot of Gold (Whisky)?
Boullier (smiling): “The whiskey.”
*Please note that Boullier did not try to avoid a question. We regrouped questions that were very similar or covered the same topic.
Over the weekend of the Canadian Grand Prix, Auto123.com met with the Lotus team boss to answer them.
Question: Are you optimistic that Kimi will stay at Lotus for a few more years?
Eric Boullier: “Yes. Kimi is a priority for us. And yes, I am optimistic to see him stay with us.”
Q: Will Lotus give preferential treatment to Kimi who has the best chances to fight for the world championship?
Boullier: “We will continue to offer identical treatment to both drivers. However, priority will go to the driver who will be leading from the sporting perspective.”
 |
| Eric Boullier and Kimi Raikkonen. (Photo: Lotus F1 Team) |
Q: Since Mercedes had the chance to do a test with their 2013 car, will Lotus ask the FIA to do a similar one?
Boullier: “No, not at all. You don't change the rules during the season.”
Q: What's the state of the relations between Lotus and Robert Kubica who is currently benefitting from Citroen and Mercedes' motorsport commitments?
Boullier: “I've had a some contact with Robert through text messages but they've been pretty informal. Nothing more.”
Q: Why couldn't you just admit that the team needed money and that is the reason you chased out Nick Heidfeld, and not for underperformance as you spun to the media? Did the money Bruno [Senna] brought to the team simply go to buy out Nick's contract?
Boullier: “Not at all, however, I cannot say much about this because of the legal agreement we have with Nick. We used the Senna name to attract new sponsors to the team, but it's not for that reason that we released Nick, though. Bruno was our third driver at the time and it was just a logical and contractual step forward.”
Q: Who will be driving for Lotus next year?
Eric Boullier: “Our priority is to keep the same driver line-up.”
Q: Will you offer Mark Webber a contract for 2014?
Boullier: “No. Not at all.”
Q: Do you consider yourself one of the big teams, or a smaller one punching above its weight?
Boullier: “We have the tools and the technology to be one of the top teams. We will continue to develop -- step by step -- to become one of them.”
 |
| Romain Grosjean and Eric Boullier. (Photo: WRi2) |
Q: When will you find a competent number 2 driver to pair with Kimi?
Boullier: “What do you mean by competent? Romain's speed has helped Kimi to raise his game.”
Q: What is your favourite Grand Prix moment, irrespective of whether it was in the past or the current era of Formula 1?
Boullier: “Without a doubt Abu Dhabi 2012 when Kimi won the race”.
Q: Which do you prefer; a pint of Black (Guinness) or a shot of Gold (Whisky)?
Boullier (smiling): “The whiskey.”
*Please note that Boullier did not try to avoid a question. We regrouped questions that were very similar or covered the same topic.