Clearly disappointed to have lost Kimi Raikkonen to Ferrari, Lotus boss Eric Boullier insists the team has proven its pedigree and will attract other great drivers.

"Of course this is a disappointment to all of us, and we’re sure you will agree that Kimi has been nothing but brilliant since he joined us," the Frenchman told the team's website. "In the same breath, Enstone has once again proven its pedigree; providing him with two great cars and making his return to Formula One a success. It's been a win-win situation right from the beginning."

Asked if he felt bitter about the Finn's decision, having repeatedly claimed that the team would be able to retain him, Boullier remained defiant: "Not at all. Two years ago, when we decided to sign him, quite a few people thought we were crazy. And what happened in the end? We've been working with an amazing racer, who scored points for the team twenty-seven times in a row, won two races, put motivation at a very high level at Enstone, and got on very well with his team-mate.

"Now, it's time to think about the future," he continued. "You know, we remain a medium-sized team and there are some areas in which we're not in a position to fight against the other top teams just yet."

Asked who might replace the Finn, Boullier is giving little away. "We are currently in discussion with a few people and will make a decision shortly," he said. "We are in the privileged position of being the most desirable team on the grid with a seat available, so we are therefore in no rush to announce anyone without establishing what will be the best for our team and the future. We've had Schumacher, Alonso, Räikkönen. New champions will join the list here soon I'm sure."

Asked his best memory of the 'Kimi days', the Frenchman refused to get maudlin. "Hold on, Kimi has not left yet!" he said. "We still have seven races together and our aim is to provide both him and Romain with the best machinery possible. There's still a tough fight out there and we're still pushing to improve on last season again with P3 in the Constructors' Championship.

"But if I had to pick one top moment, I would say that it has to be his first win with us in Abu Dhabi last year," he admitted. "After the long period of slowly building ourselves up and fighting at the top end of the grid, it was really a well-deserved reward. To see Kimi on the top step of the podium for our team will be a memory that never leaves me."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Loz, 12/09/2013 11:09

"Indeed Chris.
I think the pedigree reference pointed to previous incarnations of the team - as in Renault for example.
They have won the odd WDC after all."

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2. Posted by Editor, 12/09/2013 8:19 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 12/09/2013 9:32)

"@ Petes

Put all the faith you want to into the "accurate reporting", as you put it, the comment is a direct quote.

If something is shown as a direct quote on this site then that is exactly what it is.

"

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3. Posted by petes, 12/09/2013 6:21 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 12/09/2013 9:32)

"Wonderful planning evident here, masterful even, if the byline to the article billing is to be believed - 'time to think about the future'. Bit late Eric, old son, a bit late. The future started way back......

Have to take you up too Eric on another point, although I'm putting faith in accurate reporting - 'the team has proven it's pedigree'. WHAT!! I must have missed something. The only Lotus team that has 'proven it's pedigree' is another, very different, Lotus team - the team you front is only a pretender to that name. Get real!"

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Boullier: It's time to think about the future

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