Romain Grosjean says he is as good as ever, despite a dismal 2014 Formula 1 campaign

After finishing 2013 as one of the strongest drivers, the Frenchman and his team struggled at the back of the field for most of last season.

Following his six podiums and seventh place in the championship in 2013, Grosjean managed just eight points from two top-ten finishes this year.

With such young talents as Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo and Williams driver Valtteri Bottas delivering much more in 2014, Grosjean admits it is not easy to accept he has disappeared from the spotlight.

"I haven't had an easy time in Formula 1," said Grosjean, who made his F1 debut with Renault in 2009 but was absent from the grid until 2012.

"In 2009 I was like a fuse: I went in and I came back out.

"2012 was the year I tried too hard and I made some stupid mistakes, but 2013, after we solved the KERS map issue, we had a really good end.

"I thought then, with the windtunnel numbers that we had, that I could try to fight for wins and more [in 2014]. Then you realise that's not how it is going to be, plus Ricciardo and Bottas came ahead and they are good guys.

"But people forget what I was capable of towards the end of last year when I was beating Kimi [Raikkonen] and he was in good shape - he liked the car and it suited him well.

"That showed what I was capable of."

With no top drives available for 2015, Grosjean decided to stay at Lotus for another year, and he is hopeful a strong season will open the doors to great opportunities longer term.

"If I keep driving as well as I can and beat my team-mate, then hopefully for 2016 I can be in a race-winning car," he said.