Friday: Kovalainen Makes a “Calm” Return to Lotus
Despite his late arrival, Heikki Kovalainen seems to have adapted well to the Lotus E21 and hopes to continue his learning smoothly, while Romain Grosjean, struggling with the brakes, expects better for tomorrow.
Heikki Kovalainen – 13th and 5th:
« It was a quite peaceful return, joining Lotus. We didn’t have any major issues on the track today and we just need to keep scratching to see how good the car can be for tomorrow and Sunday. We lost a bit of track time this morning, but the car’s balance was reasonably good from the start. I was able to settle into the car and immediately work on the settings and tires. All procedures and routines are quite similar across the pit lane, plus I am familiar with all the systems after having already driven with a Renault engine this year and before, so it was a rather simple day. »
Romain Grosjean – 11th and 8th:
It was an interesting start to the day waiting to see what the helicopter would do. After that, the morning was about finding grip in the cold conditions. The afternoon was warmer and we were able to get some good work done. We struggled a bit to get the brakes exactly how I wanted with low fuel, but once that’s sorted, we should be well positioned for tomorrow. Of course, the car is good on long stints, so it’s a positive start to the weekend.
