Romain Grosjean has a bright future ahead of him and has the "talent to be World Champion one day", according to Lotus team boss Eric Boullier.
The Swiss-born driver has made an excellent start to his first full season in F1. After finishing sixth in China a fortnight ago, he followed it up with his maiden podium in only his 11th race at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.
It was a stunning weekend for Grosjean in Bahrain as he started seventh on the grid - ahead of his more experienced team-mate Kimi Raikkonen - and found himself P2 early in the race. He was eventually hauled in by Raikkonen, but managed to stay within touching distance of the Finn and race winner Sebastian Vettel en route to the final podium position.
Boullier hailed the 26-year-old's performance and sees great things ahead for him.
"More than the podium finish, what was impressive is the fact that he finished so close to Kimi and just 10 seconds behind Sebastian Vettel," he told Autosport.
"I was not expecting to have both drivers to finish so close together.
"That means that he is now capable and ready to compete at the highest level. He has the speed and the talent to be World Champion one day."
The Lotus team principal was also full of praise for Raikkonen who claimed his first podium after two years away from Formula One.
"There is more to come," said Boullier.
"He has shown many times that he has the pace. When he needed to recover, from a bad qualifying in the race, he has been able to do it.
"It took him very little time to recover after a two year's absence and he showed this weekend that he is there."
