Romain Grosjean says he's ready to step up when Kimi Raikkonen leaves Lotus

Romain Grosjean says he feels ready to step up at Lotus following Kimi Raikkonen's decision to leave the team and head back to Ferrari next year.

The notion of Grosjean assuming greater responsibilities might cause consternation in the minds of those with fresh memories of his performances last year, when getting through the opening lap proved difficult at times. Yet the 27-year-old said he'd stepped up in junior formulae and sees no reason why F1 should be any different. "It's quite a big change. I prefer to be in that situation than last year. Every time I've been team leader, whether it be in Formula 3 or GP2, it's a good situation. But you have to create it," he said. "So I'll keep doing a good job, keep doing what I enjoy, be happy with my races and, as I said, from there things should naturally turn towards the positive side." Both Nico Hulkenberg and Felipe Massa appear favourites to replace Raikkonen, with Grosjean saying: "Nico has been my team-mate already (in F3 in 2007) so we know each other. He's a very quick driver. With Felipe, I don't know any more than what I see on the drivers' parade but as long as it's a quick driver then it's good for the team." Although Raikkonen cited Lotus's financial straitjacket as the main reason for his decision to leave on Thursday, Grosjean thinks the team will overcome their money woes and are actually improving. The Finn followed former Lotus Technical Director James Allison back to Maranello, where they will also be joined by the team's former head of aerodynamics Dirk de Beer. Yet Grosjean said: "To me the team is getting stronger. It's been three years in a row that we've done a very good car; there's still a few areas where we can improve clearly to be part of the top two, maybe. But it's the getting there. "I like the atmosphere and I like the team. I live very close to Enstone so I can get there often and I really feel at home. I don't see any reason why it should go back and the money situation should get better and better."