( CNN ) -- At the start of the 2012 Formula One season , with a driver pairing that comprised of a virtual rookie and a former world champion who had been out of the sport for two years , little was expected of Lotus . But the combination of 2007 title winner Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean , whose only previous experience in F1 was seven unspectacular races for the team in 2009 , has flourished , collecting 84 points from the season 's opening five races . The highlight of a promising start was a double podium finish for Lotus in Bahrain , a result which contributed to Raikkonen 's current position of fourth in the early-season drivers ' standings , with Grosjean eighth ahead of the next race in Monaco on May 27 . The team 's on-track success has been played out against a backdrop of financial upheaval , with owner Genie Capital having terminated a lucrative longterm sponsorship deal with Group Lotus -- owned by the Malaysian car manufacturer Proton . The UK-based outfit will , however , continue to race under one of the most famous names in motorsport . Fire mars Maldonado 's first grand prix win . Team principal Eric Boullier insists that there are sufficient sponsorship deals to plug the monetary gap created by Group Lotus ' departure . `` We have not lost our title sponsor -- not in the real sense of the word lost . We have decided to end the contract , or the agreement , we had with them at the middle of last year , '' Boullier told the official F1 website . `` We wanted to change our strategy , and actually we are , if I may say so , wealthier than we were before . We have bigger budgets this year and will keep the name Lotus under a license agreement . `` We have signed some big names as sponsors . If you look at my shirt , there are two new names on it . We have been able to sign deals with Unilever and Microsoft , which are two really big names . '' Boullier said the Bahrain race was a fitting tribute to the work put in by the team -- who previously competed under the Renault name . Latest F1 standings . `` It was a fantastic reward . We have n't performed in that mode since 2006 , '' he said . `` The fact is we were expecting to deliver something after the first three races , but we had to come to terms with the little glitches we had . When that was done -- voila -- it finally worked . '' Boullier said there was a good relationship building between experienced former Ferrari driver Raikkonen , who is is in his 10th F1 campaign , and Frenchman Grosjean -- a 26-year-old who has yet to complete a full season . `` Obviously Kimi , with his experience , his character and personality , tends to have a certain degree of leadership . But in fact it is not leadership but probably more attention , '' Boullier said . Ferrari pile pressure on Massa . `` On the other hand Romain is digging a little place for himself nicely and is getting a lot of respect every weekend from the team . `` You must not forget that Kimi has done something in the range of 160 grands prix and Romain has just finished his 12th grand prix this weekend . '' Boullier said the 32-year-old Raikkonen , who collected another podium finish at last weekend 's Spanish Grand Prix , has adapted well to life at Lotus ' Enstone headquarters . `` Kimi does n't like PR , does n't like media . So why should we bother him with it ? Sure we need a balance between his demands and the requests from our sponsors , '' Boullier said . `` But he knows that we care very much about his schedule and try to minimize his obligations . That 's it . He is a racer so he races for winning and hardly cares about the rest ! `` Kimi is like a wild animal and you have to let him run the way he wants to go . We do n't have to tell him what he has to do because he is a professional and we want him to deliver on track first . ''
Lotus team principal Eric Boullier is impressed with the team 's start to the season . Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean have collected 84 points for the team in five races . 2007 world champion Raikkonen and Grosjean both finished on the podium in Bahrain . Team performing well despite parting with title sponsor Group Lotus .