Grosjean: “I haven’t had an easy life in Formula 1”
After a disastrous 2014 season in terms of results for Romain Grosjean and his Lotus team, the Frenchman believes he is still a fast driver, as demonstrated by his reaction to the difficulties he encountered throughout his time in Formula 1.
Now the only French representative in Formula 1 in 2015, Romain Grosjean hopes to erase a disappointing and frustrating 2014 season.
Equipped with the Mercedes engine, the new Lotus should enable it to achieve better performance and return to the level of competitiveness it had in 2012 and 2013: People tend to forget what I was capable of towards the end of last year when I was beating Kimi [Räikkönen] while he was in good form and the car suited him well. That demonstrates what I was capable of doing.
The Frenchman hasn’t had only good times in Formula 1, as he readily admits himself. But his experience and progress over the past three years should allow him to expect better than his current situation: « I haven’t had an easy life in Formula 1. In 2009, I was like a fuse. I arrived and quickly left. 2012 was the year when I pushed a bit too much and made some stupid mistakes, but in 2013, after we solved the KERS problems, we had a very good end. »
But the 2014 season suddenly came to a halt his momentum towards victory: « I then thought, with the data acquired in the wind tunnel, that I could try to fight for victories and more in 2014. Then you realize that it’s not going to happen that way. Moreover, Ricciardo and Bottas came to the forefront and they are good drivers. »
Here are the reasons that surely hindered the Frenchman’s progress towards higher-level teams. But his goal remains to be able to join some top teams by 2016: « If I continue to drive like this and beat my teammate, then I hope that by 2016, I can be in a winning race car. »
