Eric Boullier: “Kimi took all the opportunities that he could”

Lotus has logged strong podium finishes in 2012, but a first win continues to elude the Enstone team.

In Valencia Romain Grosjean was behind Fernando Alonso and potentially in a position to challenge the Ferrari when he retired with an alternator problem.

Meanwhile Kimi Raikkonen finished second having been overtaken by Lewis Hamilton at the safety car restart. He then spent much of the rest of the race behind the McLaren, before finally getting by in the closing laps. With a clear run, he too might have had a shot at Alonso.

Lotus team principal Eric Boullier insists that he’s not frustrated that a first 2012 win continue to elude his team, despite coming close so often.

“Not winning is not frustrating, it was more frustrating to have a DNF with Romain,” Boullier told this writer. “But at the same time we had a second place with Kimi.

“We are reasonably happy, obviously. If everything was normal, Vettel would have won, because he was too far from everybody. And Romain would have finished second and Kimi fourth, which would have been a very good result for the team. Obviously with the cars breaking down at the front it was good for the team to at least have a nice podium.”

Regarding Kimi’s drive, he added: “It was good, better. He took all the opportunities that he could. If you don’t have clear laps, it’s a problem. You have to deal with the traffic.”

Boullier is hopeful that the E20 will be suited to Silverstone.

“It should be good for us normally. The car likes fast corners. The only issue is maybe the weather or the track temperature, so we will see.”