Lotus Renault GP have confirmed that Romain Grosjean will drive alongside Kimi Raikkonen next season.
Frenchman joins after GP2 Series success
Lotus Renault GP have confirmed that Romain Grosjean will drive alongside former F1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen next season.
The 25-year-old Frenchman raced in seven grands prix for the team in the 2009 Formula One season - recording a best finish of 13th.
Grosjean, though, returns to F1 after claiming the 2011 GP2 Series crown.
"I am thrilled to be one of the team's race drivers in 2012," Grosjean told the team's official website.
"There's a big grin on my face at the prospect of getting behind the wheel of next year's car, and I feel very privileged to be given this opportunity.
"To be racing alongside a former world champion and someone who is hungry and returning to Formula One will be a great experience, and I'm sure will help raise my level of performance too.
Mature
"I feel that my successful season in GP2 Series has helped me mature a lot, and I am a much more complete driver than I was last time I was competing in this sport.
"Returning to Enstone as a race driver feels like coming home. I will not disappoint and I wish to thank all the people without whom this return to F1 would not have been possible."
Grosjean beat off competition from Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna to claim the second seat.
And team principal Eric Boullier added: "I'm delighted that Romain Grosjean will join Kimi next year. Romain has shown a lot of maturity in the past 12 months both through his GP2 Series victory and his development as third driver with us.
"We were impressed when he drove for us in the first practice sessions in Abu Dhabi and Brazil. We are confident that drafting him in to one of our driver's seats will help us in our rebuilding process.
"I would like to thank Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna for their contribution to the team's performance this year and I wish them all the best for the future."
