Grosjean ‘hindered’ by reserve driver

Lotus driver Romain Grosjean has admitted that he starts every weekend on the backfoot due to the presence of Jolyon Palmer.

Palmer has driven in Free Practice 1 for the last three races instead of the Frenchman, and Grosjean has said that it is a hindrance.

He told Sky Sports: “It clearly doesn’t help your weekend. There are tests you would like to do in P1 and change for P2 to see how the car reacts and then take the best decision for P3, qualifying and the race.

“Of course, when you are not in the car in P1 there are braking maps, differential maps, big test items that you cannot do.”

Lotus is in a far better position than it was a year ago, and has started the season positively with Grosjean scoring 16 points so far.

The team has changed to Mercedes engines this season and Grosjean thinks that it has made a big difference.

He added: “Of course, the Mercedes is a world champion engine and everything was ready, it was just ‘plug in and go’, rather than last year where we had new technology coming into Formula 1 and everything had to be set up. So it was a big difference.

“To me it’s when you turn right, this year’s car turns right! Last year that was not the case. It seems a bit crazy to say so, but it’s the best example I can give.”

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