Belgian GP: Lotus still eyeing Spa win and Formula 1 title despite low-key qualifying

Although Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean were unable to secure a spot on the front row of the grid - and could not run the team's new double DRS - Boullier thinks good opportunities are still available. His cars start third and eighth.

"There has been some hype around us - but I think the momentum is there," Boullier told AUTOSPORT.

"And I am happy to see that even if we did not get the best out of the cars in qualifying here, we are still there and we can keep the momentum we have had since Hungary. Plus, we can keep it until the end of the year."

Lotus's ambitions have moved from chasing a much sought-after victory to focusing on the world championship - even though Kimi Raikkonen is 48 points adrift of Fernando Alonso.

"If you just froze the positions of the start grid that would be a big shake-up," Boullier said. "We would then be second overall - so everything is possible.

"But even with the points at the moment, Fernando can have some bad luck and those points will reduce very fast. Everything is possible until the end of the season."

If the Belgian GP finished in grid order, then Alonso would lead the title chase on 174 points but Raikkonen would move up from fifth in the standings to second overall - on 131 points.

Boullier also believes Lotus was right to play it conservative with its double DRS, which it elected not to use because it did not get enough running with it in the rain-hit Friday practice sessions.

"If you cannot demonstrate to yourself that the device is obviously a gain, but also reliable enough to be all weekend on the car without taking any risk in the final result, then you don't take the risk," he explained.

"And I think it was the right approach to put it back in the box and wait for the next opportunity."