Lopez has faith in Grosjean

27/02/2013

Lotus chairman Gerard Lopez has complete confidence in Romain Grosjean, insisting that the Frenchman's "nutcase" days are well and truly behind him.

The French youngster earned the sobriquet "first lap nutcase" from Mark Webber courtesy of a string of reckless accidents during his first full season in F1, one of which resulted in a one race ban, the first such penalty handed to a driver in almost twenty years.

Retained by Lotus for 2013, though the Enstone based outfit took its time before making the decision, Grosjean has the full support of Lopez who insists the youngster, who has been aided by a sports psychologist, has learned his lesson.

"He's a different guy," Lopez told Reuters at the Motor Sport Hall of Fame. "He knows what he has to do, he doesn't have that pressure, stress.

"We essentially have told him he's got a long-term future with us so now he can literally take it race by race, practice by practice. He's got the speed to win races so we think we've got a very good pair of drivers and a good car."

Looking ahead to the coming season, Lopez is confident the team can pick up where it left off in 2012.

"We feel pretty good about the car," he said. "We've got two drivers who now are really into it, know the team, know the car, know the tracks. I think Kimi would have won more races last year if it wasn't for a number of reasons."