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<b>BAHRAIN PODIUM:</b> Young rising F1 star Romain Grosjean has high hopes for the Euro F1 GP in Valencia - he made the podium in the 2012 Bahrain GP. <i>Image: AFP</i>
LONDON, England - Romain Grosjean believes he has every chance of extending Formula 1's “magnificent seven” winners to a “great eight” with a maiden win for Lotus in the upcoming 2012 European GP.
The Frenchman, who has proved to be a driver of high potential so far in 2012 and who finished a strong second in the 2012 Canadian GP, reckons he and his team are ready to win in Valencia.
‘NOT OUR STRENGTH’
Weighing up Lotus's potential for the race alongside the harbour of the Mediterranean city, Grosjean said: "I don't think we are far from winning. The gap is not that big – we just need to qualify better.
“That is not our strength this season but we are working on it. Friday and Saturday were quite difficult for us in Canada but we’ve learned a lot about the car.
"We have to go into every weekend aiming for a win - approaching a race in any other way is like putting yourself on the back foot from the start. I'm mainly hoping for an improvement in qualifying, a good start and then we'll see what happens.
"It's great to be fighting at the front – it’s what we want to do - but we're in a tight battle this season so of course the most important thing is to score some good points again. If we have a strong weekend from the start we’re capable of fighting for a podium or even a win.”
Grosjean has been a revelation this year as he set about restoring a reputation that suffered in his previous brief spell in F1. His application, intelligence and speed have been a perfect foil to the great raw racing ability of Lotus team mate and former champion Kimi Raikkonen, who won the World title in 2007 for Ferrari.
'COULD HAVE DONE MORE...'
Raikkonen also believes Lotus (formerly Renault) can shine and grab more success even if he was frustrated by a technical problem with his car in Montreal.
"We could have achieved more from that weekend," he said. "Still, we gained more points for the championship, which is the most important thing especially with everything so close this season.
"I love winning - that's what I always trying for. I've never won in Valencia - it's a good target. Last time I raced in Valencia I was third after starting sixth - not too bad.
"I’d like to improve that this time around - who knows, if all goes well we could be enjoying a very good result."
The Frenchman, who has proved to be a driver of high potential so far in 2012 and who finished a strong second in the 2012 Canadian GP, reckons he and his team are ready to win in Valencia.
‘NOT OUR STRENGTH’
Weighing up Lotus's potential for the race alongside the harbour of the Mediterranean city, Grosjean said: "I don't think we are far from winning. The gap is not that big – we just need to qualify better.
“That is not our strength this season but we are working on it. Friday and Saturday were quite difficult for us in Canada but we’ve learned a lot about the car.
"We have to go into every weekend aiming for a win - approaching a race in any other way is like putting yourself on the back foot from the start. I'm mainly hoping for an improvement in qualifying, a good start and then we'll see what happens.
"It's great to be fighting at the front – it’s what we want to do - but we're in a tight battle this season so of course the most important thing is to score some good points again. If we have a strong weekend from the start we’re capable of fighting for a podium or even a win.”
Grosjean has been a revelation this year as he set about restoring a reputation that suffered in his previous brief spell in F1. His application, intelligence and speed have been a perfect foil to the great raw racing ability of Lotus team mate and former champion Kimi Raikkonen, who won the World title in 2007 for Ferrari.
'COULD HAVE DONE MORE...'
Raikkonen also believes Lotus (formerly Renault) can shine and grab more success even if he was frustrated by a technical problem with his car in Montreal.
"We could have achieved more from that weekend," he said. "Still, we gained more points for the championship, which is the most important thing especially with everything so close this season.
"I love winning - that's what I always trying for. I've never won in Valencia - it's a good target. Last time I raced in Valencia I was third after starting sixth - not too bad.
"I’d like to improve that this time around - who knows, if all goes well we could be enjoying a very good result."
