Grosjean: The Lotus E22 “brakes, accelerates, turns right, left”

After the first run of the Lotus E22 on February 7th and 8th, during two promotional days, Romain Grosjean (#8) returned today for Infosport + with the latest information about the team for which he will be the number 1 driver in /f1/actualite/16941-la-lotus-e22-a-bien-roule-a-jerez-.html.

Precisely, regarding the two days in Jerez, where the new Enstone single-seater made its debut, the French driver provides a summary that aligns with the statements of Lotus and Renault: « We couldn’t participate in the first Jerez tests, but we managed to do 2 promotional days. On the first day, we couldn’t get out before the end of the day. Then the second day went rather well since we managed to cover the 100 kilometers and finish everything before 4 pm. No major problems with the car. »

With humor, he notes however that this run wasn’t an opportunity to really push the E22: The conditions weren’t extraordinary, but overall, the car brakes, accelerates, turns right, left. Everything stayed in one piece, which is rather positive. Romain Grosjean adds: Renault was able to bring improvements on the initial problems. We’re expecting a new wave of changes for Bahrain and there I will get in the car for the first time, in real conditions in terms of temperature, the circuit, and the tires.

The car was indeed driven, in Jerez, by Pastor Maldonado (photo beside unveiled by Lotus, on Twitter). The tests allowed the engine manufacturer Renault to validate some developments, after significant problems had greatly affected the Viry-Châtillon turbo V6 during the first winter tests in late January.

Questioned afterwards about Olivier Quesnel and his possible assumption of responsibilities within the English team, the Franco-Swiss driver waits to see: “I met him once in 2010 when I was trying to find a seat. I had gone to see Peugeot Sport but our contact stopped there. He could be a good person for Lotus but as long as we don’t know and haven’t seen, we can’t judge, so I don’t know him well enough. I know what he has done from the outside, but when you see things from outside and know them from inside, they are always quite different. If it’s him, let’s give him a chance.”