Lotus' Steady Climb

With a sterling result in Hungary and lying only one point behind McLaren in the Constructors Championship, Lotus are emerging as strong contenders in the 2012 season.  While still chasing a win, they have been steadily collecting points due to a number of podium finishes.

Lotus grabbed second and third places in Hungary

Pairing 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen with 2011 GP2 champion Romain Grosjean seems to have been an inspired decision.  Both team mates have had strong finishes and appear to be quite evenly matched. 

Kimi has amassed more points this season than his younger team mate, and has achieved more podium places.  His second places in Bahrain, Valencia and Hungary, together with thirds in Spain and Germany, have put him fifth in the championship with 116 points, just one behind Lewis Hamilton.  Following third places in Bahrain and Hungary, and second in Canada, Grosjean sits in eighth place having clocked up 40 less points than the Finn.

Due to the blistering pace of Raikkonen and traffic holding up Grosjean, the more experienced team mate was able to make a move on Grosjean at Turn 1 in Hungary.

Kimi clearly has the upper hand when it comes to races.  Grosjean being involved in incidents early on in six of the races have also contributed to the difference in points gained.  Raikkonen has been reported as saying that Lotus need to make it easier for themselves by qualifying higher up the grid, however he has been outqualified by the Frenchman eight times out of the eleven races so far. 

Although demonstrating strengths in different areas, Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean do seem to be surprisingly equal in their pairing as team mates, helping Lotus steadily climb up the Constructors Championship.