• Lotus

Change of mentality necessary in Monaco - Grosjean

ESPN Staff
May 21, 2014 « Red Bull never had advantage as big as Mercedes' - Vettel | Ricciardo senses opportunity in Monaco »
Romain Grosjean has not finished a race at Monaco in his F1 career © Sutton Images
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Romain Grosjean is determined to put his recent reputation for crashing at Monaco behind him this weekend by changing his mentality in the cockpit.

Grosjean has retired due to collisions in both his F1 races at Monaco, with a GP2 victory in the 2009 feature race and a podium in 2011 his only positive results from the circuit. Last year's race was blighted by numerous incidents and Grosjean thinks he needs to focus more on ways to utilise his pace around the circuit instead of just pushing too hard to optimise his result.

"I've been on pole position here in GP2, won the race in GP2, but on the other side if you have a look at crashes I have a good record and a few corners I know too well," Grosjean said. "To be fair, last year I completely missed my weekend and wherever I would have been, it would have been the same story.

"So, just try to not do that again. You have to respect the track. Every mistake is more obvious than everywhere else [in Monaco]. I've always been quick so I'll try to keep that in my pocket but stay away from the rails."

Lotus has been consistently improving all season since missing the opening winter test of the pre-season, and in Barcelona Grosjean scored its first points of the season. Grosjean believes Lotus could be in for a memorable weekend if it can build on its performance in Spain.

"If you look at the trend from Melbourne, we've been improving every time, going to Q3 for the first time in China, going to Q3 and being fifth on the grid in Barcelona. I think we were looking good in the race to keep the Ferrari behind but I had a small problem.

"It's good that all the work has been done, and the fact we understand more and more our car, it's going in the right direction and, of course, if you are fifth on the grid in Monaco, it is kind of easier to defend your position. You never know what you are going to get when you come to Monaco, it's such a specific track. But I do hope we get the same kind of car we had in Barcelona. Then we can be well placed in Q3 and score some more points."

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