Lotus Formula 1 team expects to keep Romain Grosjean for 2015

Lotus recently confirmed a deal to switch from Renault to Mercedes F1 engines for next season and it already has a contract in place to retain 2012 Spanish Grand Prix winner Pastor Maldonado.

Grosjean had been holding out hope of a move to Ferrari following news of Fernando Alonso's impending departure, but Sebastian Vettel's decision to leave Red Bull and join the Scuderia has scuppered that plan.

Lotus's poor results this season mean Grosjean is free to leave at the end of the current campaign, but he hinted during the recent Russian GP that a Mercedes engine deal would make him more likely to stick with the squad.

Team owner Gerard Lopez confirmed he now expects to retain his current driver line-up for 2015.

"I don't expect any changes," Lopez told AUTOSPORT.

"Romain has a clause that enables him to leave the team based on results not being achieved by the team.

"It's the case this year - we're not within the boundaries fixed by his contract. He would be free to go if he wants to go.

"I've known Romain long enough to know if he were to go it would be for a team that can fight for wins and so on.

"I think at this stage he's well-advised to stay here given the changes we're doing for next year.

"We'll see, but I don't think there's going to be any change.

"I would strongly suggest it will stay the same. It's going in that direction."

Grosjean has spent his entire F1 career so far with the Enstone team.

He originally joined during its Renault era, replacing Nelson Piquet in mid-2009.

That stint proved unsuccessful and he was dropped at the end of the year, but after winning Auto GP and GP2 titles plus proving himself in a reserve role, he earned his place back again for 2012.