Grosjean prepares for 2012 at Enstone

Romain Grosjean went to Enstone yesterday, to the headquarters of the Lotus Renault Grand Prix team. The French driver took the opportunity to have his seat molded for the 2012 car and thus had the chance to get into a model of the said car.

He was delighted with his day and to have had a preview of his 2012 ride. He also spent time with the engineers discussing the new features of 2012.

I had the chance to sit in a mock-up of the 2012 chassis. It’s always special to sit for the first time in a new car, very exciting and very cool! We also talked about the plans for the new year with the new rules, new tires, and the format of the Grand Prix weekends, Grosjean said in an interview published on the LRGP website.

« It’s always a pleasure to come to Enstone. I enjoy walking around the factory, talking to the different departments, and getting to know everyone a little better. I’ve been part of the team since last year and I know the engineers and mechanics well, but a driver never stops learning. »

Romain Grosjean also stated that he feels ready for 2012 because, thanks to his role as the third driver in 2011, he was able to spend time with the team and especially the engineers, which allowed him to forge initial relationships that will be useful for 2012 as he will know how each person works.

« Having worked with the team last year was a very good thing because it gave me a better understanding of the people. It is very important to spend time with the team in the pre-season because we are going to spend 20 race weekends together, in other words more than 100 days! It’s better to start off on the right foot. In fact, I will probably be with the guys more often than with my fiancée this year … »

Unlike his teammate Kimi Räikkönen, Grosjean was racing in single-seaters in 2011 – in GP2 where he actually clinched the title. His physical training for F1 is therefore similar to what it was last year. He admitted that this facet of his role as an F1 driver did not bother him; on the contrary, he is a born athlete.

Training is part of the job. Luckily for me, I love it! Working on neck muscles is the only thing that’s not particularly pleasant, I think, because it’s a rather unique part of the body to exercise. But it’s essential to help drivers withstand the forces they experience in a Formula 1.

I am lucky to play squash and tennis, which I really enjoy, and when the weather permits, I like to go running and cycling. I always prefer to be outdoors!

Beyond being well-prepared to withstand the G-forces in the single-seater, one must be able to endure and take such shocks for nearly 2 hours. In this sense, Grosjean believes that cycling and running help him become stronger in this area.

When you prepare to spend 90 minutes in a Formula 1, it helps to practice this kind of exercise for the same duration. If you want to step onto the podium, it’s essential that your performance does not falter. So, I generally run between 10 and 20 km or cycle between 60 and 100 km to be at the top of my form!

Grosjean will be closely followed in France in 2012 – just like Charles Pic and Jean-Eric Vergne – because with these three men, it’s the return of the French in Formula 1 – perhaps before a Grand Prix. The Lotus driver is delighted to be part of France’s return to the forefront in F1.

The French had been waiting a long time for a Formula 1 driver, and now we have three. Grand Prix is a French expression, and our country is closely linked to the history of this sport. I hope we can help its development again in France, added Grosjean.