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Lotus to make driver decision 'shortly'

ESPN Staff
September 12, 2013 « Vettel welcomes Ricciardo appointment | Raikkonen has improved since 2009 - Domenicali »
Lotus is likely to keep Romain Grosjean as it seeks a replacement for Kimi Raikkonen © Sutton Images
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Lotus will make a decision on its 2014 driver line-up "shortly" having lost Kimi Raikkonen to Ferrari.

Raikkonen's decision leaves Lotus with at least one vacant seat, with Romain Grosjean - who is out of contract at the end of the season - now likely to remain to provide stability. Team principal Eric Boullier says he is already talking to a number of drivers and should be in a position to announce Raikkonen's replacement soon, although added Lotus has no reason to hurry.

"We are currently in discussion with a few people and will make a decision shortly," Boullier told the official Lotus website. "We are in the privileged position of being the most desirable team on the grid with a seat available, so we are therefore in no rush to announce anyone without establishing what will be the best for our team and the future."

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Boullier said he hoped Raikkonen could end his spell at Lotus on a high.

"We still have seven races together and our aim is to provide both him and Romain with the best machinery possible. There's still a tough fight out there and we're still pushing to improve on last season again with P3 in the constructors' championship."

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