As teams packed up under skies heavy laden with rain in Japan, two of Lotus’s team members, who had been sent ahead to Sochi, began the unpacking process at a track they had only seen in simulation. Team Lotus, including drivers Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado, who both put in solid drives in Japan, were waiting to rush from the long, terrifying weekend, in which the primary concern was the condition of Jules Bianchi, who had suffered a horrific crash, to the newest track on the Formula 1 calendar.
Thursday was primarily spent with set up. The team unpacked the equipment and prepared cars for the experience that lay ahead. Thoughts were still centered on Jules Bianchi and his condition when drivers sat down for their pre-race press conference. Both Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado expressed great concern for their fellow driver and an eagerness to make sure the conditions that contributed to his accident were not repeated.
As the team prepared the cars, team Technical Director, Nick Chester, made it clear that while they were as prepared as possible it would be impossible to know exactly how the track will run once the cars are on it. The track is, as Chester describes it, a “high downforce track”, meaning that a great deal of what happens is up to the driver. Grosjean and Maldonado must concentrate at all times on the track and the times if they want a good starting position on the grid. The set may be “similar to Singapore” according to Chester, however with such long straight aways and faster times, the down force must be much greater, making it a harder to handle at times.
To combat the disadvantage that comes with a brand new circuit, both Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado spent time in the simulator. This allows the drivers, according to Chester, to “see how each corner flows into another…and to have an initial idea about braking points”. Chester believes that this will help the drivers as they go into the first practice. In addition to simulator work, the team has worked with organizers and partners to make sure that telecommunications are in place and everything the team could possibly need has been made available. Moreover, while the team finds itself at a new venue, Chester believes the performance expectations are much the same as they are at any track. The team should have strong showing on Friday, and throughout the weekend, as despite the difficult race conditions last week both drivers had decent lap times and put forth a solid race.
As Lotus prepares to tackle the track as Sochi, their thoughts remain with Jules Bianchi as he fights against his injuries, as well as with the challenge that lays ahead of them this weekend. A new circuit, more downforce, and faster, longer straights awaits the drivers as they pilot the cars out onto the track for the adventure that is sure to be the Russian Grand Prix.
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