Lotus F1 boss Eric Boullier says that Kimi Raikkonen’s victory in Abu Dhabi shows that the team is now capable of competing with major rivals, despite it having limited resources relative to the established frontrunners.
In addition the result won’t hurt the team’s chances of finding crucial extra funding.
“It means that during the season we can keep fighting and keep being efficient in the development race,” said Boullier. “It’s good to see that our car today was matching the pace and being fastest on track, or nearly the fastest one. And it’s it good to see what we produce as a team. We can do it and we can compete with the big boys. That’s clearly a very good source of motivation and belief in the future.
“In the strategy we want to be a top team, I always said this. And to be a top team you have to keep pushing and keep gaining more results, more resources and obviously more sponsors to make sure we can establish ourselves.”
Asked by this writer about the importance of Kimi’s current third place in the championship, he said: “To be two races before the end of the season and having Kimi in third position is obviously great. It’s good for us, it’s good for Kimi, it’s good for F1.”
Boullier conceded that it was good to get the first win out of the way having missed some chances earlier in the season.
“When we you look back at the season we could say we were that close to do it, let’s do it next year. I have to say it’s a good relief to say it’s done!”
He didn’t rule out another win this season.
“For sure we will push to get the big points. We will push to get into the top five, and if there is an opportunity, we will take it.”
Adam Cooper F1 