Eric Boullier: Lotus should not be considered a second-class team – Formula 1 news
Lotus team principal, Eric Boullier declares that his team should not be considered amongst the second-class teams in the Formula 1 while he stands positive that they can have a tussle with the top most teams which include McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari.
The season opener at Albert Park in Melbourne had been full of surprises for Lotus right from the qualifying, where Romain Grosjean’s dream come true as he was third in the grid for the first race, to his collision with the Williams’ driver, Pastor Maldonado.
Furthermore, Grosjean’s teammate, Kimi Raikkonen was at 18th place in the grid after his mistake during the first session of the qualifying. However, he secured seventh position in the race with a reasonably good performance.
“We knew our car was quite quick, but as for the others we had absolutely no clue,” Boullier said. “Saturday was a relief: you don't reach the second row of the grid by chance.”
Furthermore, Boullier after admitting, they did not have huge budgets like other big teams, said that money don’t help in winning the titles.
“Our philosophy is that money does not buy wins and championships,” Boullier added. “For us, Formula One is all about being clever and cost efficient. The E20 is the first Enstone car designed with our 60% scale wind tunnel and upgraded CFD facility. In
a few weeks, our brand new simulator will be operational.”
He also said that they should not be deemed as the second class team as they were in the list of the most striking teams in F1.
Nevertheless, he said that in order to stand along with the top teams, Genii Capital, the owners of the team are ready to bring in more money for the team. Moreover, he said that it would provide help in designing new parts and developing new systems.
Additionally, Boullier is hoping for an improved performance for the second Grand Prix which will be held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia this weekend and he believes that it will prove out to be completely different from the first race which
was held at Albert Park in Melbourne.
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