Lotus to remain unchanged in 2013

While all the attention on driver line-ups for next season has focussed on McLaren, Mercedes and Sauber over the past week, Lotus have also pencilled in their decision.

Quite understandably the decision made by 2008 Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton, to leave the team he has been associated with since the age of 13 has taken the global headlines.

McLaren's move to replace him with the Sergio Perez, someone who is thought of as a future world champion and the biggest potential amongst the current crop of young drivers has also taken its fair share of the limelight.

Then there's the sub-plot of what will happen to the fallen hero, seven-time F1 World champion Michael Schumacher, whose return from retirement over the past three years has failed to match expectations.

But away from centre stage and behind the curtain, there's Lotus. A team that has shown a huge amount of potential themselves, they're fourth in the constructors championship and third in the drivers title, despite failing to win a race this season.

Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean have always been expected to keep hold of their seats for 2013 following their performances this season, but as yet, there has been no official word, although a pretty large hint has been dropped.

'I think it [Lotus, driver line-up] will look pretty much the same as what we have this season. With Kimi we have a two-year contract, with an option.' Lotus team principal Eric Boullier told formula1.com.

Speaking about Kimi Raikkonen's return from retirement this season he added: 'There’s no question that it was a pretty cool move to get Kimi on board. We get more than the sporting results. He has brought motivation back into the company. You can feel that people admire him. Admiration can do fantastic things and it’s something that we never anticipated before. Sponsors, for example, love him, even though they know about his reputation for being a person who is difficult to handle. But that in itself is no issue at all. Kimi is playing the game. So the whole package, the whole momentum, is what makes us move forward.