Boullier: Kimi definitely the lead driver in the team

Source: autosport.com

Lotus technical director James Allison believes his team’s driver line-up will prove to be its “trump card” in 2013.

Lotus unveiled its striking new E21 challenger at Enstone on Monday and Allison is certain that Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean will do the new machine justice.

“By far and away the biggest trump card we have to play this year is that we have got two drivers who start the year [in strong shape],” Allison told AUTOSPORT.

“One of them [Raikkonen] had a brilliant season last year and really got up to speed quite swiftly and no-one would deny that in the last half of the year his driving was absolutely top drawer stuff.

Team principal Eric Boullier described his line-up as “the best pair of drivers that you can have on paper” and sees Raikkonen as its best shot for the title at the start of the season.

“He is definitely the lead driver in the team, even though they have equal status and both cars are technically very similar,” Boullier told AUTOSPORT.

“Kimi is the natural fit to be the lead driver, but then we will see how the season develops.”