Romain Grosjean, frustrated but optimistic

Very lively since the first free practices yesterday, Romain Grosjean was expected this afternoon in qualifying. And very quickly, the Frenchman showed that he would have to be counted on. Easily qualified for Q2, the Lotus resident F1 Team won a fifth time enough to move into Q3, and therefore fight for pole position. Alas, Romain was surprised a few moments later, his Lotus E20 ending up in the gravel trap.

Disappointed, the Frenchman does not give up yet. Efficient, just like its car, he will leave tomorrow with rage in his stomach, determined to go and fight once again at the forefront. “It's frustrating, and I'm really sorry for the team, because it looks like we had a good car, he laments. But sometimes mistakes happen. My lap wasn't that different from the last, but enough to get out and the car to go, backwards, into the gravel before getting stuck. It was very slippery. We deserved better, but we will give our best tomorrow to gain positions and get big points. It will be a long race, and the starting position is not very significant when the conditions are variable. The other beneficial point of not having taken part in Q3 is that I have a set of fresh intermediate tires”.

Finally, with the penalty game (Hulkenberg 9th and Maldonado 7th move back 5 places on the starting grid. Editor's note), Romain Grosjean will place his Lotus E20 tomorrow in eighth place on the starting grid. A new performance of choice is therefore well within its reach.