Can’t afford more mistakes: Lotus
Team principal says they need to get Raikkonen back on the podium.
Eric Boullier admits that the team has to work on reliability issues to avoid derailing Kimi Raikkonen’s season any further PHOTO: AFP
Lotus team principal Eric Boullier, speaking ahead of next week’s Italian Grand Prix, admits that the team has to work on reliability issues to avoid derailing Kimi Raikkonen’s season any further, according to Sky Sports.
These problems led to Raikkonen’s retirement during the Belgian Grand Prix as the left-front brake disk on his E21 overheated and ultimately failed. Now the Finn is fourth in the standings and 63 points off the pace.
“We need to get Kimi back on the podium and consistently,” said Boullier.
“His DNF [Did Not Finish] in Spa was the first he has had with Lotus and we certainly don’t want to see any more this season. He’s been on the podium six times so far this year and there are eight races remaining.
“We all know that the gap to Sebastian [Vettel] is not getting any smaller, but behind Seb the battle is quite tight as we’ve seen over the last few races.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2013.