Japanese GP – How to lose a race, by R. Grosjean

Grosjean and Lotus situation

So Grosjean is now hailed as some sort of wunderkind. This because he has qualified well and kept out of trouble a few races. Well, I have another view. And I will testify to the fact that although his antics and first lap incidents have decreased, he is far from a clean racer and he still has serious problems with his spatial awareness.

His defensive moves are dirty at best and he is now the number 1 boy at Lotus. Why? Because Lotus desperately needs to big up Romain as much as possible to sell their team to sponsors for next year. And Kimi is currently reduced to a measuring stick for Romain. If he matches or beats Kimi, then he is as good as Kimi or better.

Alan Permane is one of the forerunners in this PR campaign. If Kimi finishes ahead of Grosjean, it is to be expected and reasons for that are given. Safety cars and what not. Something that is conveniently left out when it is the other way around.

Kimi has also been cut out from the technical meetings as well as banned from access to the factory. Expect race strategies and any remaining parts to favour Grosjean for the last races. The tech meetings and factory access is expected due to Kimis switch to Ferrari of course. I’m just mentioning it.

Eric Boullier touts that Kimi would have been forgotten if he had not come back to Lotus. That is not only preposterous, it is a fallacy. It would be the other way around in fact. Although Lotus has had a decent car the past two years, their popularity would not have SOARED like it did without Kimi.

As for points? Where would they have been in the championship? RG has less than half the points of his teammate this year. Even with his latest upturn in performance. 2012? Less than half the points there as well.

But now that there are financial troubles and Kimi get points bonuses, Lotus are desperate to get Grosjean to finish ahead of Kimi. Not only due to sponsors but also because of money trouble. I thank Lotus for luring Kimi back but this is getting ridiculous. Give credit where credit is due.

What about Grosjean in Japan? Was it the fantastic race that so many so-called pundits are saying? No it was not. Why? Let me count the reasons. He got a good start, yes. But only due to the Red Bulls both starting badly and Hamilton getting a puncture. That’s okay. It happens sometimes. But don’t make it sound like it was a “stroke of genius” or an “out of this world start” or some other nonsense I have seen.

He is now leading the race. That is very good. What is even better is that he has an ageing and over the top Webber behind him and not a 4 time champion. Let me tell you what that is. That is an open goal. Webbers pace in the Red Bull is nothing short of pathetic.

Speaking of points? Mark Webber also has half the points of his teammate this year. Anyway, this is where Grosjean should have opened a gap big enough to control the rest of the race in comfort. This is obvious. He could not have done that with Vettel on his heels. But he sure as heck could have with Webber behind. But he didn’t.

That is not impressive. That is depressive. Clear air and a Lotus with a race pace proven to be on par with Vettel in the Red Bull at times this year, (at least in the hands of Kimi) should have been a slam dunk.

Instead he wasted his golden opportunity and not only loses the lead but 2nd place as well. Slips down to 3rd and it is still hailed as a great drive. That baffles me because it just wasn’t. Ok, compared to how he drove last year in Japan it was a great drive. But that really shouldn’t be the norm a driver should be judged by. But Lotus is quick to step up and hail his drive as the second coming, which was expected of course.

Okay, enough of that. India is coming up so I’m hoping for no mistakes in qualifying for Mr. Raikkonen. Time to close it down until then.