Lotus boss confident Grosjean will bounce back

Lotus team chief Eric Boullier believes fellow-Frenchman Romain Grosjean will return stronger at next weekend's Singapore Grand Prix, following his one race ban for reckless driving.

Grosjean, 26, missed last Sunday's Italian Grand Prix at Monza, which he attended as a member of the Lotus team, after being handed a suspension by the stewards for causing a multi-car pile-up on the opening lap of the Belgian Grand Prix.

"He has definitely learned his lessons and I know he is eager to get back in the car in Singapore," said Boullier.

"In a way, it will have done him good.

"He will have learned a lot because being in your car you have only one radio in your head, but when you are in the garage, you have both cars and you learn a lot more."

Grosjean was the first driver banned from a race since Michael Schumacher, then with Benetton, in 1994. His ban followed a run of incidents. He was involved in six opening lap collisions in 12 races this year.

While Grosjean tried to keep a low profile, his Lotus team-mate Finn Kimi Raikkonen finished fifth at Monza and moved to third in the championship, one point behind second-placed Monza winner Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren and 38 adrift of championship leader Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari.

"That's good for us, good for Kimi, too," said Boullier.

"The approach he has is good. The more we can deliver big points, and if we can maintain our consistency, that is going to be key for the championship.

"We have said this since the beginning (of the season) and he is confirming that now.

"So we look forward to the next races because they should suit our car much better."

Returning to Grosjean, Boullier added: "We have spoken a lot about it. And definitely in some way it was best for him. He is going to keep the same speed when he comes back, and I think he will stronger.

"He will be even more confident in himself and, having discussed and fixed these issues, he will be better."

Grosjean revealed, in an interview with L'Equipe, that he attended the pre-race drivers' briefing at Monza where he was greeted warmly by Alonso, who told him to put the accident at Spa behind him.

But, said the Frenchman - who lies eighth in the championship on 76 points - he was snubbed by Hamilton who ignored him.