F1- The Lotus E22 more at ease in Austria?

After a successful return to Europe with the first points of the year won thanks to Romain Grosjean in Barcelona, ​​we thought Lotus was on the road to recovery. But the two rounds in Monaco and Montreal showed an E22 well behind, on two admittedly very specific tracks. For the Austrian Grand Prix this Sunday, on a more conventional circuit, Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean admit to being much more optimistic. Especially since the Venezuelan has already raced on this track, in Formula Renault. “I know the track but it will be the first time for me in a car of F1. I think the route should be suitable for the E22, Maldonado says. It looks like the circuit doesn't have too many slow corners and the downforce and setup is similar to Barcelona, ​​which should help us. We will work hard to resolve the problems we had in Canada so that we can achieve our goals in Austria. I’ve always had a lot of fun racing there and I’m happy to come back. »

For Romain Grosjean, this will be the first time at Spielberg and the Habs note the very fast and hilly nature of the Austrian track. “The lap looks like a lot of fun with high speed sections and not too many low speed sections, which our car hasn't been successful with so far this year. The track also has some elevation gain, which is always fun as a rider. We won't know for sure where we will be until we get on the track, but I don't think the circuit will be as complicated for us as Monaco or Montreal. »

The first laps of the E22s in Austria will be followed tomorrow at 10 a.m. on our website for the first free practices on a track which had historically been successful for Colin Chapman's Team Lotus with four victories in 1972, 1972, 1978 and 1982.