Grosjean: “I needed help”
Asked by Sky Sports, Romain Grosjean agreed to discuss what he changed after 2012 to redeem himself in 2013, including his visits to a psychologist.
The second part of the 2013 season revealed a Romain Grosjean capable of consistency and solidity. Qualities that, according to many observers, had been lacking in the Lotus driver in 2012, where, despite his speed, he could not fulfill all the hopes placed in him, to the point of greatly threatening his seat.
Highlight of a mixed 2012 season, the crash at Spa-Francorchamps where, deemed responsible, he was banned from the following Grand Prix – even though it was his first penalized offense. This accident marked the beginning of a turnaround for the Franco-Swiss, who then enlisted the services of a psychologist, notably: « She is used to working with top-level athletes, almost all French Olympic champions have worked with her, » he confided to our colleagues at Sky Sports.
When asked about this topic, Romain Grosjean explained the way to proceed: Sometimes, we talk about certain things, other times about others. It really depends on where you are and what you need to work on. According to him, such work is not a sign of fragility: That’s why I started, because I was smart enough to think that I needed help. It’s not a sign of weakness, it’s rather a strength. You can always improve, and that’s why I’m still working with her, currently, once a week. It’s either a phone call, or I go to see her and we talk.
If the 2013 season ended with four podiums in five races, before the Renault engine of his Lotus exploded in Interlagos, it was also marked by the accident during the Monaco Grand Prix, where the French driver was deemed responsible for the collision with Daniel Ricciardo at the tunnel exit. He dismisses a lack of concentration: « I don’t think concentration was a problem, but sometimes I wanted to go faster than the music like in Monaco this year. I completely missed the weekend because I wanted to go too fast compared to our level. » But the Monaco lesson seems to have served him well: « Being in the right rhythm, doing the right things and managing the pressure sometimes; managing stress when it arises for certain reasons and knowing why and how. »
Romain Grosjean will be the leader of the Lotus team in 2014 and will have to deal with new pressure. He will not, however, stop his appointments with his psychologist: « I will continue this for a while, because I think you can always make progress. I think it makes me a better man at home and a better driver too. It makes my life easier. Watching how people around you act also helps you understand yourself and face yourself. And then, also, I hope to be ready to be a number 1 and a World Champion, which is not so easy after all. »
