Was Romain Grosjean Issued Team Orders In Bahrain?

During the Bahrain Grand Prix, many eyebrows were raised when Lotus failed to give Romain Grosjean direct team orders to allow the much faster Kimi Raikkonen through. With Raikkonen loosing time behind his slower team-mate, many believe it was this error that cost Lotus and Raikkonen their first win of 2012.

However, Finnish TV broadcaster MTV3 have reported that Lotus did actually issue the Frenchman team orders, with the team stating that Raikkonen was faster than Grosjean. The team reportedly ended the radio message ordering Grosjean not told the 2007 World Champion up, as they hunted for their first victory under the Lotus name.

Although such team orders are now legal in Formula 1, Lotus were adamant that they didn’t issue Romain Grosjean such orders and that they were happy to see the two race each other for track position. The topic of team orders has been a touchy subject up and down the paddock, after Ferrari ordered Felipe Massa to let Fernando Alonso through in 2010 with the infamous “Fernando is faster than you” statement. 

Ultimately, the Finn was unable to pass Sebastian Vettel and win the Bahrain Grand Prix, and although Raikkonen was initially frustrated at not winning the race, Lotus left Bahrain in high spirits after a superlative team result with 2nd and 3rd. 

Since Bahrain, many have predicted that both Kimi Raikkonen and even Romain Grosjean could win a race in 2012. Both drivers‘ know how to win races, and both will be eager to replicate such competitiveness next time out in Spain in just under two weeks time.

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