Lotus's best form of 2012 is still to come, promises Eric Boullier
Lotus team principal Eric Boullier is confident that his team will have an even stronger second half of the 2012 Formula 1 season, after its promising start to the campaign
Kimi Raikkonen claimed Lotus's sixth podium finish of the season in Germany after Sebastian Vettel was hit with a post-race time penalty for overtaking Jenson Button off the track, but the team has yet to convert its pace into victory.
Boullier has no doubts that with the team and drivers developing an ever tighter working relationship, Lotus is on course to score more points in the second half of the year than it has in the first.
"In some ways, we are a new team," Boullier told AUTOSPORT. "This is a new Enstone, working together with both drivers.
"Our complete package, including the car and the drivers, is coming together.
"I don't see any reason why in the second half of the season we would not score more points than we have done in the first half. That is how it should be."
Boullier echoed Raikkonen's post-German Grand Prix sentiments, suggesting that the Finn had the pace to fight for victory had he started from a strong position.
Raikkonen lined up 10th after struggling with grip levels in wet conditions in Q3 but showed strong pace during the race.
"It's not frustrating, it's just racing," said Boullier of the team's lack of a breakthrough win. "If we make everything right in qualifying and are in the top five, we know that we have the pace to win. This is the target now.
"In Germany, our car had the pace to fight with Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull. It's just a question of qualifying better."
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