Grosjean accumulates experience at Renault

How has your experience with LRGP been so far?

Firstly, it’s an immense pleasure to be part of an F1 team and, of course, such a prestigious team as Lotus Renault GP. I have had the opportunity to attend a few races and gain experience on how things are conducted. Listening to the engineers, the drivers, and everyone else has been very useful in understanding how a team of this magnitude operates.

How are your relationships with the team members?

I know many of them from my time with the Renault F1 Team in 2009, and it’s good to see them again. I enjoyed working with them back then, and it’s very nice to see us reunited. That said, the structure is very different today because the new management has really pushed in that direction. The team is very involved and even more professional.

What did you take away from these weekends spent on F1 with the team?

There is always something to take away, always something to learn from these men about the track or the settings. Even if you’re not racing, you have a clear idea of what’s happening, and I definitely have a lot to learn by being among them.

The team has a rich heritage. In your opinion, what is special about LRGP?

The color of the cars! Well, the name is special too, but the black and gold brings back memories for many people, and everyone wants to see these colors on the starting grid. Also, Eric Boullier has a very human approach, and his engineering experience is a valuable asset. He always thinks about the trust that the driver must have in their car. In Monaco, for example, he asked his drivers to do some free laps. It wasn’t related to the technical side; it was simply to allow them to get into the rhythm and build confidence. If you talk to Eric, he truly believes that it’s possible to gain two-tenths this way, whereas enormous efforts and resources are required in the design office for the same gain with technical improvements. I really like this way of working.

What do you think of the team’s performances so far in 2011?

The season is very, very exciting and I am really thrilled to see that the team was able to achieve such a good start after Robert’s accident. What happened to him caused a great shock to everyone, and I believe everyone wishes him a speedy recovery. The team has also made strides in terms of development. Each driver has secured a podium at the beginning of the season, and in Canada, they were running in fourth and fifth positions for a while. Nick was unlucky, but Vitaly was able to score some good points. So it’s clear that the car is very competitive.

You are leading the GP2 championship. What are your thoughts before Valencia?

First, I would like to start from pole position and win the races without any problems. Things have gone well so far, but we have also had quite a bit of bad luck and some difficult moments. So we will continue to fight relentlessly to win the race and the 2011 championship.

The championship is tight. How are you going to stay ahead of your rivals?

Fight very hard, keep working as we always have, and try not to make mistakes. That is the key to our success.

According to a press release from Lotus Renault GP