Romain Grosjean places Lotus in the top 10 in Budapest
Romain Grosjean managed to escape the Q2 trap to rank 10th in Hungary. As for Pastor Maldonado, he only achieved the 14th time.
Despite Romain Grosjean continuing to miss Friday morning sessions, it does not stop him from making the most of the equipment at his disposal. He managed to raise his game in Q2 to edge out Nico Hülkenberg by a few hundredths of a second to secure the last spot in Q3.
He could therefore be satisfied with his session: « We had a bit of trouble during our first stint but Q2 was much better. I really pushed hard and everything went well. It was a fantastic lap. Overall, I am pleased with today’s performance and proud of my team and what they have achieved. » Considering the lack of developments on his Lotus, the French driver even called it a “miracle” just after the session, on the Canal + microphone.
Pastor Maldonado was one of the victims of Fernando Alonso’s red flag. Moreover, he made a mistake on his final fast lap: « We had the potential to be in Q3 because the pace was there quickly. I did a good lap in Q1 being in the top 10. Unfortunately, we failed to repeat it in Q2. We didn’t progress as much as we would have liked, especially with the red flag. Then I locked my tires in the first corner, which compromised my lap time. I don’t think this position is representative. »
However, it will not be easy to get back on a track where overtaking is so difficult. This does not bode well for the team, which is in a fierce battle with Sahara Force India for the fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship.
