Lotus team principal Eric Boullier has conceded that finishing in second place in the constructors’ championship may be just out of reach, instead setting his sights on Ferrari who occupy third place with two races remaining.
Just thirty-seven points separate Mercedes, Ferrari and Lotus in the race for the runners-up spot in the constructors’, with Red Bull clinching their fourth successive title at the Indian Grand Prix last month. However, with Lotus trailing Ferrari by just eleven points and the Italian team currently in a poor run of form, Boullier believes that moving ahead of them is the more realistic target for the Enstone-based team.
“There are two races left and eighty-six points available, so mathematically it’s still possible and we’re not going to stop pushing in any regard,” he said. “Of course, to score maximum points you need to occupy the top steps of the podium and there’s a Red Bull plus Sebastian Vettel shaped problem there. Certainly for us, it would be good if Seb took an early winter holiday!
“Looking at the standings and how the teams have been scoring in the last few races, you would have to say that third certainly looks to be a little more within reach, but our approach is the same; to keep pushing all the way.”
Kimi Raikkonen will be keen to shake off his bad luck from Abu Dhabi after being excluded from qualifying and then retiring on the first lap of the race, whilst Romain Grosjean could continue to lead the team’s charge after four straight top four finishes.
