Romain Grosjean plays down effect of Monaco Practice crash & talks up Lotus chances

Frenchman expects to be in the mix with Alonso and the Mercedes'
 

Romain Grosjean: A messy end to an otherwise positive day

Romain Grosjean has shrugged off the crash which curtailed his Practice Two running in Monaco and expressed confidence that Lotus are in good shape to be in the front-running mix this weekend.

The Frenchman, despite a few scruffy moments in the weekend's opening track session, appeared to quickly pick up the speed around the tortuous streets as he finished the morning with the third-fastest time.
However, his afternoon session lasted a mere ten laps after the 27-year-old blotted his copybook when he damaged the front of his E21 against the barriers at St Devote.
But despite the apparent setback, Grosjean was nonetheless in high spirits when he spoke to reporters after the session given that, up until his crash, he had been happy with the handling of his Lotus.

"It [the crash]'s not a big deal," he insisted. "It's a bit of a shame we lose some time of practice, but the car is there, the balance is there.
"I went in and it locked when I was already into the corner so unfortunately nothing I could really do.
"The team is doing a great job, first on the set-up and also repairing the car, and the beers will be on me Sunday night!"
And while Mercedes appeared to underline their status as favourites for pole position on Saturday - and even potentially the race victory - with an impressive one-two in afternoon practice, Grosjean suggested the weekend was poised for a multi-team battle for supremacy.

"It [the crash]'s not a big deal," he insisted. "It's a bit of a shame we lose some time of practice, but the car is there, the balance is there.
"I went in and it locked when I was already into the corner so unfortunately nothing I could really do.
"The team is doing a great job, first on the set-up and also repairing the car, and the beers will be on me Sunday night!"
And while Mercedes appeared to underline their status as favourites for pole position on Saturday - and even potentially the race victory - with an impressive one-two in afternoon practice, Grosjean suggested the weekend was poised for a multi-team battle for supremacy.