Zitat Romain Grosjean admits using a psychologist in a bid to overcome spate of crashes Lotus driver reckons he's "learnt how to put everything together"
By Mike Wise. Last Updated: January 30, 2013 7:50pm
Romain Grosjean has revealed that he sought help from a psychologist in a bid to overcome the spate of crashes he caused last season.
Although the Lotus driver showed a genuine turn of pace in his first full Formula 1 season and scored three podium finishes, he was also involved in a number of incidents - particularly at the start of races.
Infamously, Grosjean triggered a spectacular multi-car pile-up at the first corner of the Belgian Grand Prix for which he picked up a one-race ban.
The 26-year-old Frenchman returned vowing to improve, but not before causing another collision at the start of the Japanese Grand Prix for which Mark Webber branded him a "first-lap nutcase".
Grosjean had already started seeing a psychologist by then and after a protracted period of discussions with Lotus bosses and team owners Genii Capital, a contract extension was announced shortly before Christmas.
Summing up his 2012 season in an interview with Sky Sports F1 at the launch of Lotus's new car on Monday, Grosjean told Ted Kravitz: "I don't think it went entirely the way I wanted. We had too many incidents. We had good results - quicker than I was expecting - but maybe I wanted a little bit too much.
"(It was) not an easy end of the season but I think I've learnt how to put everything together for this year. We know that there won't be any more chances so I'll have to deliver what the team want.
"It's not a secret that I started work with a psychologist in September last year and it went very well during the winter. I had a lot of discussion with Genii, the owner, to try to help them understand and take the right decision. And when they called me to say, 'Okay we go again for one more year' I was more than happy."
Lotus's Eric Boullier said they gave Grosjean all the support they could in the wake of his ban, which was served at the Italian Grand Prix.
The Team Principal is confident that the former GP2 champion will emerge as a reformed character in 2013 but stressed that more is required of him.
"We had a couple of issues with Romain. The 2012 season didn't exactly match the expectation we had from him," Boullier said.
"If we had to continue with Romain, we would be comfortable that he would have understood that we wanted what I was expecting from him.
"Since he got his ban last year, we had pretty intensive discussions together, a lot of change around him and a lot of support needed for him to understand. He had to find out by himself what to expect.
"He won every Championship he participated in before, so he knows what it is to win races and win Championships. But I think the way he handled Formula 1 in 2012 was maybe not the most efficient one and he got lost somewhere.
"We believe he has some speed, some potential, so we had to make sure he understood everything we are expecting from him."
Zitat von SpinsterOMG Kimi would roll his eyes if he reads this
Hey Spinne! I have a Kimi quote from 2005 to support your theory:
ZitatKimi deals with the driving related pressure by himself.
– I don't need any outsiders for that. There are drivers who have a psychologist helping them and they tried to push one of those on me too. I just said that I don't need one, Kimi states.
ZitatThe Finishing Line - with Romain Grosjean 04 Apr 2013
Lotus racer Romain Grosjean has had no problem reaching the finishing line so far in 2013 - the 26-year-old Frenchman was tenth in Australia and sixth a week later in Malaysia. But how well will he negotiate our new ‘Finishing Line’ questionnaire, designed specifically to provide an alternative insight into the minds of today’s Formula One stars? Read on to find out…
The sportsperson I most admire is… Romain Grosjean: I have many that I admire: (tennis player) Roger Federer, (skier) Didier Cuche, (rally driver) Sebastien Loeb and (former tennis player) Yannick Noah.
The best actor in the world is… RG: Jean Reno
The most memorable overtaking move of my career was… RG: It was in GP2 at Barcelona in 2011. I overtook three cars in two corners at Turns 4 and 5. Two around the outside and one on the inside.
My favourite song of all time is… RG: I like the songs of Adele.
The best thing about the off-season is… RG: You can sleep as much as you want.
The last time I lost my temper was… RG: It happens sometimes, yes. The last time, I guess, was in December. I dropped almost everything I had on me - my phone, my wallet…
My first pet was… RG: It was a Jack Russell dog by the name of Milou.
My most treasured possession is … RG: My wedding ring.
The funniest person I know is… RG: Hughes Trevennec from Mumm champagne.
My favourite drink is… RG: Champagne on the podium.
You would never catch me wearing a… RG: Pants made from floral fabrics.
The best excuse to give your team boss after crashing the car is… RG: Sorry, I’ve got the wrong pedal…
The last time I lost something was… RG: Touch wood, I almost never lose anything.
My favourite holiday destination is… RG: Mauritius.
My favourite time of the day is… RG: Dinnertime.
The strangest rumour I’ve ever read about myself was… RG: That my wife was pregnant two years ago which was not true at the time. She is now…
The best present I’ve been given by a fan is… RG: A mini model of myself carved from wood and painted.
Gros baby arrived. " title="greetings" /> They have a little boy with the name Sasha since one day after the Hungary GP (29. july) t" title="hat" /> Congratulation " title="ii" />
I kept looking for the baby in the picture h" title="hih" />
During summer break, perfect timing . But I don't think the baby will be sleeping through the night in a month. It's a good thing Romain will get some sleep at least during race weekends
When will he be back on earth? His psychologist do a very good job
quoteI'm among the best in F1 - Grosjean
Romain Grosjean believes he has proven himself as one of the best drivers in Formula One this year and says he is ready to lead Lotus into 2014.
Grosjean transformed his reputation in the second half of the year from a quick but crash-prone driver to Red Bull's closest challenger. A series of crashes in 2012 led to criticism from fellow drivers at the end of last year, but now that he has started to deliver on his potential, Grosjean believes he is among the best in the world.
"I think I have proven that I am part of the best drivers and that's how I consider myself," he said. "It took some work and some painful time to get there, but I am now proud of what I am doing and I don't think I can do more."
He said he put pressure on himself after 2012 to improve his form.
"I was probably the one that was the most negative about myself," he added. "I hate not being able to do what I want to be able to do and it was hard. It wasn't nice to read those comments, but that was not what was worst, the worst was to not be happy with what you are doing. Right now I am glad because I'm very happy with what I am doing and it's always nice to be able to read those nice comments. But it's mainly with yourself that you need to be happy."
Kimi Raikkonen has left Lotus for Ferrari over the winter and Grosjean will be joined by Pastor Maldonado next year. However, after two years of growing up with the team, Grosjean believes he is the right man to lead it in 2014.
"I do think so. The team knows me and I know them very well. I feel at home at Enstone and I feel at home when I am with them, and we do enjoy our time together. We work hard and we are always able to say things face-to-face, which is important when I'm not driving well, and the times when I'm not happy with something I tell them. That relationship allows us to step up and I think they are ready for me to be the leader and I am ready to be the leader."
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Sun Jan 27, 2013 5:49 pm
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my" title="ohmy" /> You will give them your pacifier?
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" title="hug" /> Spinne
" title="greetings" /> They have a little boy with the name Sasha since one day after the Hungary GP (29. july) 
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. But I don't think the baby will be sleeping through the night in a month. It's a good thing Romain will get some sleep at least during race weekends 
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