Lotus: The kind of speed Grosjean has does not grow on trees
27 November, 2012
Romain Grosjean’s season ended in the Interlagos barriers
Nov.27 (GMM) Despite actually getting to keep his seat for 2013, Romain Grosjean is being made to wait for confirmation from Lotus as the team rates the Frenchman’s raw speed very highly, despite a tumultuous, incident packed season. In the Brazilian season-ender, he crashed both in the qualifying session and the race.
“At the moment we are having a few days or a few weeks of consideration,” team boss Eric Boullier is quoted by RMC Sport.
“This season, there were not terrible things and not great things. But we’re not going to bury the kid, he did three podiums.”
And team owner Gerard Lopez told Speed Week: “The chance that he races with us in 2013 is great.”
Grosjean, 26, admitted in Brazil that after the ups and downs of his return to F1 this year, he is exhausted.
“It is time to stop and take two months off,” he said. “I hope I’ll be there next year.”
Romain; Quick but rough!
Lopez told L’Equipe: “Romain is one of the fastest drivers in F1.
“He understands the car, he can get the most from it, but he has not done everything we asked of him, especially in terms of consistency.
“But the kind of speed he has does not grow on trees.
“The reason he is not yet confirmed for 2013 is because we have not yet had time to sit down and discuss it together with the engineers. Then we’ll see.
“My desire is to see Romain in the car, but it depends more on him than me.”
Subbed by AJN.
Related posts:
- Lotus boss backs Grosjean to shine in 2013
- Grosjean admits to no deal yet with Lotus for 2013
- Grosjean confident that he will stay with Lotus
- Boullier says Lotus are ready to extend Grosjean contract
- Grosjean hoping to keep Lotus drive for 2013
Romain became the “whipping boy” for some of the most visible UK F1 reporters who could not let go. Their biased and unprofessional reporting established his reputation for the rest of the season overshadowing his positives. If Romain was a “F1 Good Ole Boy/Girl,” he could have blunted much of the bad press by throwing a few targeted private party events for his critics! We know that he would have been treated differently if he was a media “Golden Boy.”
Team Lotus appeared to desert him in public, and helped to drag out events. They did not put closure on his situation and future, just letting him hang in the wind. Their responses were weak, gave conflicting information, and exhibited questionable leadership, and decision-making. Compare to Ferrari’s aggressive, forthright advances supporting their team TO THE END! They don’t put up with anything, from anyone! An embarrassment to Lotus.
Try to image the incredible stress and duress this young man must be under. Could you handle it? I blame Lotus, not Romain. Lotus, bring in an organizational psychology consultant or change some of your key decision makers. You need it!
ROMAIN SHOULD BE RETAINED
I’m a long-time US fan dating back to Watkins Glen when F1 was still a viable and fan-supported motor sport.
Some Romain Positives:
1. Superior pre-F1 resume
2. First full year – 3 podiums, 96 points, and 8th place Drivers Championship; possibly 7th without some of the DNF’s. Superb by anyone’s standards. (Recall Kimi’s – and other’s – first year controversies and performances?)
3. Great qualifying, superior race pace, aggressive, great moves (when recognized by the press). Example: USGP. After spin, ended up 20th and worked his way up the class and finished 7th right behind Kimi. Some UK F1 reporters chastised him for his poor performance, never objectively reporting his great run up to 7th.
4. Maximized E20 potential, regularly matched Kimi’s pace.
Media & Lotus
Romain became the “whipping boy” for some of the most visible UK F1 reporters who could not let go. Their biased and unprofessional reporting established his reputation for the rest of the season overshadowing his positives. If Romain was a “F1 Good Ole Boy/Girl,” he could have blunted much of the bad press by throwing a few targeted private party events for his critics! We know that he would have been treated differently if he was a media “Golden Boy.”
Several US reporters felt that some of his technical issues were indicative of similar issues in the development classes and there needs to be more effective driver education and training.
Team Lotus appeared to desert him in public, and helped to drag out events. They did not put closure on his situation and future, just letting him hang in the wind. Their responses were weak, gave conflicting information, and exhibited questionable leadership, and decision-making. Compare to Ferrari’s aggressive, forthright advances supporting their team TO THE END! They don’t put up with anything, from anyone! An embarrassment to Lotus.
Try to image the incredible stress and duress this young man must be under. Could you handle it? I blame Lotus, not Romain. Lotus, bring in an organizational psychology consultant or change some of your key decision makers. You need it!
@?
KOBA Was A Real Pleasure To Watch In 2009 And 2010, But Not In 2011 And 2012 ( Podium Not Enough ).
I Do Not Know Why, But He Seems Both Lost And Not A Racer Anymore.
I Wish He Gets A Ride For 2013 And The Chance To Go Back To His Old Self, Though.
Go, HAMILTON !
@Lauda Fan
You Have Every Reason To Be Mad, But You Are Looking At The Wrong Race And The Wrong Perpetrator.
If You Change SPA For JAPAN, You Know Who To Blame, And It Was Not The ICEMAN.
Go, HAMILTON !
“If You Have Any Respect For The Last Laps Of FRANCE 1979, Then, Please, Do Not Kick True Racers Out Of F1.”
But I think Grosjean should be replaced by Kobayashi. Now, where’s that partner to portray Arnoux?
Oh please Lotus! This idiot cost Alonso the title (and possibly his life) by crashing out recklessly at Spa. If I ever meet this Grosjean jerk in person he’d better duck fast. Gotta mean right hook with his name on it…
Title… Yeah it grows on grosjean’s lettuce head.
If PASTOR Can Learn Not To Crash Every SUNDAY, Then ROMAIN Can Learn It Also.
If You Have Any Respect For The Last Laps Of FRANCE 1979, Then, Please, Do Not Kick True Racers Out Of F1.
Thank You.
I like the guy, but at the same time I feel bad to say or wish anything bad for him. I’m just very surprised that Massa out scored him in the end
It’s going to be an extremely tough decision by Lotus, wouldn’t want to be in their place.
But as many people mention, Lotus must focus on their pit-stops and strategy as priority. And stop using short gear – long gear worked just fine in the beginning of the season!!! And build even better car of course !
GL!
Romain Grosjean is a racer & that is a rare thing in F1…if he crashes at least he’s trying and as much as I like Kimi, Grosjean has been faster in Quakifying a few times….why are people not moaning when Hamilton was crashing a few times too much?
My vote is YES for him to stay at Lotus…then each of us has his own opinion and in 44 years of watching F1 I’ve been more right than wrong..great having Yalla F1-fans having their say!!
The best move is replace him with Kobayashi
romain deserves another shot. who knows what he can do for lotus next year? if he can improve his driving, then it’s good for the team. if not, he may get the axe before the season ends. he better should avoid unnecessary accidents if he doesn’t want to be kicked out of lotus.
Johannes:
You mean kill the guy!?
“The kind of speed Grosjean has does not grow on trees”
Either does the money it cost to keep repairing the car, I wounder if any component on his chassis actually lasted its designed life…
Lotus will be kicking themselves in the future, if they let Romain go now. Besides, he brings Total backing.
@Butterfly
Why not? Maybe he can finish the job this time.
Johannes:
Right, replace him by the guy that assaulted one of the Lotus owners…
The key here is that he’s quick. Otherwise there’d be little point in considering him. Yes, he’s had a few crashes but not all of them were his fault.
Lotus have a very difficult decision to make. Any time he crashes, even when it’s not his fault, they’re going to be under huge pressure from this decision.
I’d recommend that they keep Grosjean as there’s too many drivers sitting in F1 just now who are too slow, just average, an won’t ever win GPs.
They should replace him by Sutil.
Lotus race strategy is dead on the water
lotus must improve their race operation side (pit stop, strategy etc)
Im really piss off they did ask romain pull over immediately for kimi in bahrain, leaving his soft tyre degrade while pursuing Vet.
And the slow pit stops always hampered the undercut strategy……costs kimi alot
Also the decision on tyre compound, often put kimi on worn out tyre too long to make the pit stops.