• Spanish GP - Qualifying

Grosjean not expecting to go backwards in race

ESPN Staff
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Romain Grosjean achieved his highest grid position of the season in Spain © Getty Images
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Romain Grosjean believes the long runs Lotus carried out on Friday is an indication he could be in for his best finish of the season after qualifying fifth in Spain.

It has been a tough start to the season for Lotus, who are yet to score a point in 2014, but the team continued to show good signs of progress on Saturday. Grosjean is wary of getting too carried away after the season he has endured so far but he sees no reason to write off his chances of a top-six finish on Sunday.

"That would be nice," Grosjean said when asked if he was confident of keeping P5 during the race. "We will do our best. Yesterday the long run from Pastor looked pretty interesting, plus I did a less longer one which was good as well.

"Yesterday I was something like P8 which was nice but I knew we had something more. I think we benefitted because Seb couldn't get a lap in Q3 but in general but it would still be sixth so I'm happy. I think there is still more to come from fuel, from engine mapping performance and an easier way to change the switches and that will come. Everyone is working to try and get a little bit more."

Grosjean edged into Q2 by the skin of his teeth and he thinks the updates Lotus brought to Spain are doing the job, even if there are still areas he is struggling with.

"It was a difficult Q1 but then the car improved and we just got everything together for the last lap. To be fair all the upgrades we brought have worked pretty well on the car but there is far too much things to change, doing an out lap changing three or four switches is difficult. Sometimes it doesn't work as it is and everyone is still learning.

"I knew that with a change of regulation there would always be a surprise in both directions. Unfortunately for us it's been quite a bit of a bad surprise so far. We lost people but the people who replaced them are more than capable.

When asked whether he thinks Lotus will be in a position to challenge for podiums soon, Grosjean said: "If we keep doing steps like this one from China then probably."

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