Lotus head to Italy this weekend looking to bridge the gap to Toro Rosso

(Steven Tee Lotus F1 Team)

The Lotus F1 Team head into the final European race of the season, the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza circuit looking to close the gap to their rivals in the Constructors championship. The Enstone outfit have struggled so far this season and by their own admission are nowhere near where they should be which is challenging for podiums and wins.

The outfit are currently in 8th place in the Constructors championship on eight points, eleven behind the Scuderia Toro Rosso team. Last time out at the Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa Francorchamps circuit the team suffered a double retirement as Romain Grosjean was forced to end his race early as a result of accident damage while Pastor Maldonado suffered an exhaust issue.

Looking ahead to Sunday's race where last season Romain Grosjean finished in 8th place the Frenchman commented:

'I like Monza a lot because it is so distinctive. Monza is a great track that has a lot of great racing history. This makes it nice for us to compete at a place where all our heroes raced too. There is a lot of atmosphere around the track and to race in the setting of the royal park makes for a really special ambience. Of course the Ferrari fansare a big part of it and it is really nice competing at such a legendary venue.

One of my first ever races in cars was at Monza back in 2003 when I was driving in a category called Formula Lista where I won and then went on to win every race of my rookie season in that formula. I have had some other big results at Monza too throughout my career, so it holds 

lots of good memories.

I think that it will be tough for us. On paper it is not one of the races that we should do that well at. But as always we will be fighting hard and trying to get the maximum from the weekend, so that it gives us good momentum for the Singapore weekend later in September when we should be stronger and the track should suit the E22 a little better. We will have a one-off rear wing for Monza and the key will be to make the car as quick as possible from an aero point of view, so that we can get back some of the performance from our straight-line speed disadvantage. 

Then we have to manage the tyre degradation. Also for us it will be tricky in the big corners like the Lesmos and the Ascari chicane because the less downforce you have then the more difficult it is to get good grip in the turns. It is a tough compromise but one I am sure that the team will get the best solution possible.

When asked by the team if he felt the reduced levels of down-force on the 2014 cars will prove a challenge for the drivers in Monza Grosjean replied:

'Yes but this is the same for everyone. Especially without the blown diffuser it will be more challenging than last year for sure. But this is F1 and you have to meet the challenge which we will do. The reality is that we will probably have to run less all-round downforce to make up for the time we lose on the straight, but we will just have to stay positive and extract the most from the package we have in Italy.

The race organisers at the Italian Grand Prix have made changes to the Parabolica corner, the last one before the main straight and Grosjean was asked about it:

'Parabolica is a very challenging and quick corner so from a safety point of view it is a good thing to have some more margin for the drivers. I remember sometimes in the past coming in to the corner and knowing that to brake even a little bit too late then you could be straight in the gravel and then straight to the wall at high speed. I think that now what you will see is the drivers finding the limits sooner, because we know there will not be the big gravel and crash penalty like previously.'

Grosjean was also asked which he prefers Pasta or Pizza.

'I know a great Pizzeria close to the track, so it is pizza all the way for me. But I am always careful because it can catch up very easily on the weight side of things! Italy is a magic place and the cultural aspects are a big part of that. Like a lot of drivers I did a lot of racing there, even since karting days so I feel like I know the country very well. I don’t know anyone who does not enjoy being in Italy.'

Pastor Maldonado heads to the Italian Grand Prix in search of his first point's of the 2014 season and will hoping to his on his finishing position of 14th place from last season when he drove for Williams. The Venezuelan is a fan of Monza.

'I like Monza and I love Italy. I actually used to live very close to the circuit when I was starting my career here in Europe. I have won races here so it holds some good memories and special feelings for sure. I have a lot of friends here and a lot of supporters who come and see me at the track, so it is very nice to catch up with them all. The track is totally unique and of course it is great to be racing where all the old heroes did too. Monza has changed only very slightly over the years and it still has the character of the old banking and the parkland trees as you drive through it and of course the fans create a great atmosphere which is a great soundtrack to the Grand Prix.'

Maldonado is expecting a tough a weekend in Monza as the team have struggled this season, however he is lookig forward to seeing how the new 2014 spec cars perform in Monza.

'For sure it is going to be a tough weekend again for us at Lotus F1 Team. Monza is all about power combined with a low down-force set-up so it is a big challenge. I think it will be interesting to see the new 2014-spec cars here because the track is so unique and there is a very particular way to get the best out of the cars. They will be difficult to drive I think for everyone but we will be doing our best to put the Spa weekend behind us and to get more positive energy going before we head off on the long haul races.'

When asked to describe the Monza circuit using one word Maldonado commented:

'Speed. It has to be speed because the track is all about how fast you can go on the start/finish straight and then also on the back straight too. We are reaching the highest speeds of the season on these stretches. One of the critical points is the Parabolica corner. You have to get this right at the end of your lap to ensure a good time, and if you get it wrong it also compromises you for the next lap. It’s difficult to do this as the car is set-up for low down-force on the straights, so it’s more difficult to drive on the corners – especially a long corner like Parabolica, which is tough and fast, the most crucial at Monza.'

When asked about the changes to the Parabolica Maldonado said:

'I don’t think it will make too much difference really. The approach will be the same which is to take it as quickly and efficiently as possible. Of course there is the obvious safety element which means that you have less risk if you go off. I think this is good from a safety point of view because it is a quick corner with not that much room on the outside.'

When asked if it would be nice to have a dry race on Sunday Maldonado commented:

'Yes. Spa was very tough with the conditions and also Hungary too. Monza is usually warm and dry which seems to suit the E22 more than the wet. We just need to have a trouble free weekend where we can further explore the low downforce bodywork, especially the front wing package that was introduced at Spa. The big challenge though will be the power issue. It is difficult to overcome any disadvantage on this front but everyone will be working to get as much speed as we possibly can.'

Maldonado was also asked which Italian cuisine he prefers Pizza or Pasta to which he replied:

'Both. Definitely both. But not at the same time of course!'

The Enstone outfit's deputy team principal Frederico Gastaldi was asked about the team's disappointing weekend last time out at the Belgian Grand Prix and whether or not he felt their were any positives gained from the race.

'We always try to find some! But yes there genuinely were some positives from a tough weekend. It is in the DNA of Enstone that even in the hard times we fight for and then maximise what we have at our disposal. Despite the initial disappointment of not getting a result we remain super motivated. We knew it would be hard at these power tracks like Spa and Monza. However, Romain did a solid job to get in to Q2 and then after he got a new nose in the race after he was hit by Bianchi at La Source, his pace was good. The new parts on the car showed some encouraging signs and if we get better luck and have clean races then we can progress a lot more up the field.'

Gastaldi was asked to comment on the disappointing race for Pastor Maldonado. He feels the Venezuelan will have a better time when the conditions are right.

'Yes, sadly. It was an exhaust issue. It was a big shame because he was pumped up to come back from the tough start he had to the weekend after the Free Practice incident. I know that when the conditions allow he will put himself in a good position to make the most of the E22 and fight for points. I am confident of this, and the team believe he can continue to fight for some good results before the end of the season.'

This weekend's race in Monza will be the first time that Gastaldi will have attended the race as deputy team principal and he was asked to describe the event:

'Like Spa it is part of F1’s identity. It is another name that goes hand in hand with racing the world over. If you went anywhere in the world I am sure you would get an instant association of the words Monza and F1. They are linked, I hope, forever. It is a race that along with Monaco, Silverstone and Spa should be the first to pencil in to the calendar. The race itself is important but there is also a lot on the commercial side that takes place at Monza for the following season.'

When asked what makes the Monza circuit so unique for the team Gastaldi commented:

'Monza is a real test for the engineers and drivers because it is the ultimate compromise in speed and aero balance for the car. That is unique in F1 these days. It will be interesting to see how they rise to the challenge. We go there in a difficult position as we are not the fastest in a straight line. But we will push to the maximum, matching the passion and spirit we see off the track from the fans, with our usual determination on it. We have to dig in and make sure we are in the best position possible for when our luck changes.'

Gastaldi was asked if the flyaway race's coming up with suit the E22 more compared to the European leg of the season to which he replied:

'Singapore should  be better for us as the power disadvantage will not be so pronounced. Sochi will be a big unknown for everybody and Suzuka, although having some long straights,  also rewards a good set-up  and good aero.'

Gastaldi was asked about his team's objectives for the rest of the season and whether or they have changed following the double DNF in Spa.

'No. We stated that for the second half we will strive to make the most of the E22 and to add to the points tally right up until Abu Dhabi in November. The team is fully focused on ensuring that we get some reward from 2014 which has been challenging for many reasons. Naturally in F1 you are always thinking ahead and we have already started on the 2015 project but we have the resources to do both concurrently. There is plenty to look forward to for the short and long term at Enstone.'

Lotus F1 Team technical director Nick Chester stated:

'It is quite challenging because it is such a lowdown-force circuit. It is difficult to get grip in the car and for the drivers to feel comfortable – so working on the car set-up is key. We will also focus on the braking so Romain and Pastor can make gains on the entries to the chicanes and generally feel more comfortable in feeling where the limits are. We have more aero parts to take to Italy which we will try on the Friday free practice sessions. We will have a low-drag rear wing for Monza that is circuit-specific and as a result the skinniest we will run all season. It is all about meeting the low down-force challenge.'

Chester was asked how the new generation of Formula car would have performed on the old Monza layout:

'In actual fact, it would probably be very dull because of the amount of down-force these days which would mean the car would be like on rails, glued to the track with no sliding at all. The old Monza banking is really bumpy – and I believe that it was bumpy even back in the days it was used. Cars used to break springs regularly and so a modern car just wouldn’t survive on it from a vehicle dynamic perspective.'

Gastaldi was also asked how fast he feels the new cars will go on the straights in Monza to which he replied:

'It will depend on the down-force and drag levels that the teams will run but I expect it will be higher than last year. It might be possible to achieve 360kph on the straight, depending if the car is getting a tow with DRS.'

Chester was also asked what the problem was with the cars that resulted in the double non finish to which he replied:

'As we suspected, it was an exhaust failure for Pastor and we have identified the area of the exhaust that broke so that has been updated for Monza. For Romain, the aero imbalance he experienced was due to an issue with the rear wing mounting mid-race. He did have a few excursions off circuit so we had loadings that you would not normally see which we think contributed to this.'

Finally, Chester was asked if he felt the handling on the new cars will be difficult this weekend to which he replied:

'They will be a little bit trickier than last year’s car being a bit lighter in downforce and with more torque in the turbo engines so I think the exit of the chicanes can be quite tricky. We have seen in all the cars this year how the cars move under acceleration out of a corner and at Monza which is the circuit where we run the cars in their most slippery configuration, we will see some acrobatics from the drivers as they manage the cars on power at mid-corner and also on the exits.'

© Ben Johnston 2014