Dec.12 (GMM) Romain Grosjean is not being marketed by Lotus as the latest substitute for injured team regular Robert Kubica.

Pole Kubica's contract runs out in less than three weeks and, if he returns to formula one, he is being more strongly linked with Ferrari.

"The idea with Grosjean is to make him the number one (in formula one) in two or three years," team boss Eric Boullier, who has also signed up 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen for 2012 and beyond, is quoted in the French press.

The Swiss-born Frenchman Grosjean, 25, agrees that he is no stop-gap solution for Lotus.

"I can't wait to be there (in Australia in March), realising that I am in F1 for the whole season," he told La Figaro newspaper.

"So it is even more extraordinary than the first time."

He is referring, of course, to 2009 when - under Flavio Briatore's management - he made his ill-fated debut at Renault alongside Fernando Alonso.

"There has been an evolution of maturity," said Grosjean. "I think I needed a slap to make me bounce back. Everything had gone too well and now I understand it's not like that.

"With another approach, the pleasure outweighs the pressure or the stress."

As in 2009, he said he is happy to be racing alongside another world champion.

"I'm getting used to it -- two chances in F1, two world champions," he laughs. I think there will be plenty to learn from Kimi and I think that after ten laps it will be forgotten that he has not driven for two years."

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version

F1 News  F1 Schedule  F1 Line-up  Constructors' Championship  Drivers' Championship  F1 Tickets  Live F1 Coverage

Full Version: Formula 1 News  Formula 1 Schedule  Formula 1 Line-up  Constructors' Championship  Drivers' Championship  Live F1 Coverage  10 'n' Pole  F1 Regulations  The Forums  Motorsport Shop  F1 Merchandise  F1 Tickets  F1 Diecast  F1 Videos  F1 Games