Lotus F1 Team driver Romain Grosjean is confident that next weekend's Belgian Grand Prix should prove well suited to the E23's capabilities.
"I think the circuit could well play to some of the strengths we have in the car," said Grosjean. "I’m certainly ready for more points!
"Me and the team will be doing everything we can to go well and get the strongest result possible, after all that’s what we’re here to do."
Grosjean added that he was excited to be getting back to work after the Formula One summer shutdown, and said that Spa-Francorchamps was one of the best circuits that they visit all year because of the challenges that the historic circuit presented to drivers and teams alike.
"It’s a great track as there’s so much to think about over a lap. That’s true if you’re on a qualifying lap trying to maximise your speed at every point, or in a race where you’re either defending or attacking, and maybe both over the course of a lap.
"It’s the type of place where the differences between cars can be highlighted and sometimes you see a car go really well here – let’s hope that’s our car this season!"
Asked what he felt a car needed to do well at Spa - and why he thought that the Lotus would be well-placed to fill those requirements - Grosjean emphasised the need for raw power down Spa's long sweeping straights through the Ardennes, which Lotus have courtesy of their Mercedes-provided power units.
"You need good grunt from the engine and a well set-up and forgiving car," he explained. "We can definitely deliver on both those counts so it’s going to be interesting to see how we fare against our rivals."
Mention Spa and it's not long before you have to start factoring in the variability of the weather in the region, which is notorious for its ability to conjure up rain showers from no where and leave meteorologists tearing their hair out in frustration at the unpredictability of it all.
"You also need an element of luck sometimes as the weather in the Ardennes can present a challenge," Grosjean agreed. "It’s almost a cliché to talk about the possibility of rain on one part of the track when it’s dry on another, but this can happen.
"If it happens during qualifying, it’s a massive challenge to make the right call with timing for your lap.
"If it happens during the race, then the call of when to pit and change your tyres for wet weather ones or back to slicks has a massive impact as it’s a long, long, long lap if you’re at Spa on the wrong rubber."
Plenty of risk and uncertainty in store for the teams next weekend, then - but then with risk comes opportunity, especially for the midfield teams who need a break if they're to get on an even footing with the top teams at the front of the grid. However for Grosjean the appeal of Spa is much more visceral.
"It’s a circuit with a soul," he explained simply. "You get a very real sense of being at a living, breathing track at Spa, and the fans are really close to the action - you can almost smell the frites!"
Catch up with F1i's breakfast date with Lotus F1's deputy team principal Federico Gastaldi
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