New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS): Formula 1 team Lotus have announced that Romain Grosjean will again partner Kimi Raikkonen next year, giving the team an unchanged driver line-up for the 2013 season.

Grosjean made his return to F1 with Lotus in 2012, having won the GP2 Series title in 2011, and scored three podium results - in Bahrain (P3), Canada (P2) and Hungary (P3) - en route to eighth place in the drivers' championship.

"It's fantastic for me to be continuing with Lotus F1 Team for 2013," said Grosjean on the F1 website late Monday night.

"It's superb to have the support of everyone at Enstone. I'm really looking forward to rewarding their faith when we take to the track in Australia."

"I learnt a lot in my first full season in Formula 1 and my aim is to put these lessons into practice with stronger and more consistent performance on track next year," added the Frenchman, who earned a one-race ban for triggering a first-corner pile-up at September's Belgian Grand Prix.

"There are a lot of exciting developments occurring behind the scenes at Enstone and I am very excited with the prospect of the E21. I've already had my seat fitting and spoken with all the personnel involved with the build of the new car; I just can't wait to get behind the wheel."

The Raikkonen-Grosjean partnership took Lotus to fourth place in the 2012 constructors' championship.

Grosjean also emerged victorious at the 2012 Race of Champions Sunday in Thailand beating eight-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen in the final.