Are They Here To Stay?

Formula One has got a new sensation in 2012, a team which has taken the paddock by surprise and stunned many of the doubters.

That new revelation is Lotus-Renault, and they could have some big things to come in the future, if the 2012 Championship is anything to go by.

It might sound like we’ve been here before, a talented team that promises a lot but then offers little in return. But, Lotus are a little different, working in conjunction with Renault, who supply and develop the engine, the gearbox and the chassis. The team have built up something of a giant killing persona about them, getting full backing from Lotus Cars UK to use the famous brand name once again in Formula One.

The new team spirit between the drivers, crew and management, has for the early part of the season at least produced results. Three podiums in seven races can be classed as good form and the two drivers have been a revelation since the opener in Australia.

Lets not forget, Kimi Raikkonen is a former World Champion, winning the title for Ferrari in 2007, and while his sabbatical in the WRC wasn’t a great success he is still fast, very fast. Experience is one aspect needed for success, but youth and exuberance is also welcome, and that has been delivered in the shape of Swiss maestro, Romain Grosjean.

This has appeared to be a match made in heaven, the former champion with a point to prove, and the hungry young challenger out to show his potential for the future.

In recent races this match seems to have worked, Grosjean has had a season best second, and two third place finishes, while Raikonnen has also made appearances on the podium in Bahrain and Valencia.

The young Swiss driver was perhaps unlucky not to challenge for victory at the European Grand Prix in Valencia as an alternator failure cruelly stole his chances of victory in a race in which showed his true desire for success.

But the real talking points regarding Lotus have been their qualifying performances, in particular the displays of Romain Grosjean.

The youngster has consistently managed to perform when the pressure has been against him during a session. His strong qualifying performances, including third place starts in Melbourne and Barcelona, have made him one of the talking points of 2012.

However while Grosjean has never been absent from the top ten in qualifying, he has occasionally struggled to convert his performances into overall race results. Australia, Malaysia and Monaco have been good examples of this slight inconsistency.

Monaco was, perhaps, the finest example of this, starting from fourth place, Grosjean was slightly too enthusiastic to overtake in the run into Sainte Devote. The resulting crash put an end to his race and resulted in chaos behind as everyone attempted to scramble past the sliding Lotus.

But a few minor mistakes have not detracted from the potential success of the young Swiss driver this year, with his composure, speed and his overall precision outweighing his lack of experience.

We should also mention Raikkonen, who has so far only been outside of a points finish once this year, during a disappointing display in China, when second turned into 14^th as his tyres degraded in the closing stages. But one tough performance hasn’t dented the optimism of the Finn, or Lotus, who have created one of the most competitive and consistent packages this season.

As the Championship moves towards the ninth race of the season, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the team will now face a new challenge. While all others play catch up, can Lotus keep the form going when the times really get tough?

The team have a very experienced Principal in the shape of Frenchman, Eric Boullier, who has navigated the team through the last few seasons as Renault. Boullier will know that the old Renault outfit had a similar performance in 2011, only to fall away towards the end of the season.

The Frenchman will now be hoping that a repeat in form does not occur with development and investment appearing to be the long-term answer for Lotus. Admittedly the team have got one of the most reliable packages of any team in Formula One.

The Renault V8 is exceptionally reliable and emphatically fast, hence why Red Bull are using the same unit in their car this year. The Lotus chassis has also proved to be strong, pushing the drivers steadily up the grid since the opener in Australia.

But now the team must prove their mettle as the season draws on, after all it is one thing to start well, but it is quite another to finish with good form. The former Renault team have been in this position before, and Lotus will now be looking to surpass their predecessors.

With the season drawing close to its half way point, the opportunity is there for further development and success, provided that Lotus still have the midas touch.

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Mauro Baldi Bobby Ball Marcel Balsa Lorenzo Bandini Henry Banks