SAO PAULO, Brazil - Gerard Lopez, owner of F1 team, Lotus has played down rumours that Romain Grosjean could be dropped.
Even before Grosjean was involved in yet another incident - this one a high-speed clash with Pedro de la Rosa ahead of the Brazilian GP - whispers in the Interlagos paddock suggested Grosjean's future was less than secure.
'ONGOING DISCUSSIONS'
That's because of the 26-year-old's tumultuous 2012 season, and the fact his team mate Kimi Raikkonen's 2013 deal had already been announced.
Lopez said: "It's not yet completed, there are ongoing discussions. The decision will be made after the season."
Asked by France's RMC Sport if Grosjean could be ousted, Lopez answered: "No, this is not the subject right now. The subject is to sit down and see what we are going to do."
The buzz in the Interlagos paddock was that Lotus was pursuing a high-profile figure for 2013, just as it did when it brought Raikkonen back from a rallying sabbatical to race F1 in 2012. One name mentioned a few times was Robert Kubica, even though the talented Pole is saying openly that his injuries from a severe rallying crash are still preventing him from driving a single-seater.
And Lopez told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport: "There is no 'Kimi' on the market right now."
Even before Grosjean was involved in yet another incident - this one a high-speed clash with Pedro de la Rosa ahead of the Brazilian GP - whispers in the Interlagos paddock suggested Grosjean's future was less than secure.
'ONGOING DISCUSSIONS'
That's because of the 26-year-old's tumultuous 2012 season, and the fact his team mate Kimi Raikkonen's 2013 deal had already been announced.
Lopez said: "It's not yet completed, there are ongoing discussions. The decision will be made after the season."
Asked by France's RMC Sport if Grosjean could be ousted, Lopez answered: "No, this is not the subject right now. The subject is to sit down and see what we are going to do."
The buzz in the Interlagos paddock was that Lotus was pursuing a high-profile figure for 2013, just as it did when it brought Raikkonen back from a rallying sabbatical to race F1 in 2012. One name mentioned a few times was Robert Kubica, even though the talented Pole is saying openly that his injuries from a severe rallying crash are still preventing him from driving a single-seater.
And Lopez told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport: "There is no 'Kimi' on the market right now."