Lotus owner Gerard Lopez believes his team deserves some respect for their efforts in Formula One in 2013. The Enstone outfit finished in fourth place in the Constructors' Championship this year, behind Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari, although they had a chance of finishing as high as second until the final race in Brazil. Lotus also had to cope without Kimi Raikkonen during the final two races after the Finn decided to have surgery on his back ahead of his move to Ferrari, following a pay dispute between the team and the driver. He has since been replaced by 'pay driver' Pastor Maldonado, who brings substantial investment from the Venezeulan oil company PDVSA with him to the team....
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