Romain Grosjean has issued a personal message of thanks to his Lotus team for having faith in him, as he predicts a regular challenge at the front of the grid for 2013.
Speculation about the Frenchman's future in Formula 1, following late-season incidents, ended on Monday night when Lotus confirmed that it would be keeping him for another season. Grosjean was understandably delighted with the news, and took time on Tuesday to send a message to every team member of Lotus thanking them for their support and expressing his happiness at remaining a part of the operation.
"I wanted to take this opportunity to express personally just how happy I am to be staying with the team for the 2013 season," wrote Grosjean in the e-mail to the Lotus team. "The support of the team and everyone at Enstone [the team's UK factory] is phenomenal; and I would like to thank you for being behind me. I've always said that Enstone feels like my home, and the team is like a family, and I am incredibly happy to be here."
Grosjean delivered three podium finishes last year, and could have won in Valencia if he had not been forced out of the race with an alternator problem. With Lotus ending the year strongly, Grosjean is positive about its chances of making progress next year and delivering even better results.
"We are growing and developing from strength to strength as a team; I know next year will be bright for us and I cannot wait to get behind the wheel again," he added in his e-mail. "I've seen the amount of hard work that has gone into our new car, and I'm confident that we will be in a strong position to challenge for the front of the grid at every race. I'm looking forward to the future together; stronger, better and even more successful."