Lotus – Grosjean: “An easy season for no one”

As in the previous two days, the Lotus counter stopped at around thirty laps, and like the previous two days, the Enstone structure had to prematurely end its test day. A situation that significantly hinders the team, which has already missed the Jerez tests.

Romain Grosjean, who was at the wheel of the E22 and will be again this Sunday, admits the obvious: Lotus is behind. “In terms of preparation, we are not ready yet. There are many things we would like to try before going to Melbourne, but tomorrow’s session only lasts a few hours and we will need to be at the top on as many things as possible,” he stated to Autosport.

The Frenchman, one of the most prominent drivers at the end of last season, to the point of giving Red Bull a run for their money, has lowered his ambitions: « It won’t be perfect in Melbourne, or even in Malaysia, but we will do our best to improve everything. It would be nice if we could score some points, but if not, then we’ll take it as an opportunity to progress. But, honestly, it won’t be an easy season for anyone. »

« If you have a small leak or need to change the battery, for example, it takes about three hours, » he explains, referring to the many parts that now make up what the regulations call the “power units,” a hybrid technology built around a turbo V6. « But the more we drive, the more we discover things and the more we can solve them. »

The native of Geneva primarily wishes to stay positive: « It has been a major regulatory change and it is difficult for everyone, for engine manufacturers and teams. It’s not ideal, but at least we can tick some boxes in terms of reliability. »

Since the beginning of this second testing session in Bahrain, Lotus has completed 95 laps, which is approximately 514 km. Romain Grosjean will still be behind the wheel of the Lotus E22 this Sunday.