Grosjean will learn, says Lotus chief

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS - Agence France-Presse

Lewis Hamilton (R) of McLaren Mercedes and Fernando Alonso (L) of Scuderia Ferrari crash during the start of the 2012 Belgium Formula One Grand Prix. EPA photo

Lotus team chief Eric Boullier hopes his errant French driver Romain Grosjean will learn from his errors this season after being handed a one-race ban and a 50,000 Euros fine at Sunday’s Belgian Grand prix.

Compatriot Boullier said he believed Grosjean’s punishment for triggering an opening lap pile-up that eliminated four cars was ‘severe’, but added that if the penalty helped him improve in the future it was a good thing.

The crash marred a spectacular race won by Briton Jenson Button of McLaren who kept alive his own slim championship hopes with a consummate drive from pole position to the chequered flag.

Button is now sixth in the title race with 101 points, trailing leader Fernando Alonso of Ferrari by 63. Defending champion Sebastian Vettel, who finished second on Sunday, is second with 140 ahead of Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, on 132, Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus on 131 and Lewis Hamilton of McLaren on 117.

Grosjean, 26, will miss next weekend’s Italian Grand Prix after being the first driver to receive a ban since Finn Mika Hakkinen of McLaren at the 1994 German Grand Prix.

 Asked if he will learn from his experiences, Bouillier said: “I can only say yes, I hope so. Obviously the penalty is done to make people understand what they did.”