F1: Grosjean says new Lotus nose a positive change

Romain Grosjean says the experimental nose run on his Lotus Formula 1 car produced "positive" results, even though he was slowest in first free practice for the U.S. Grand Prix.

Lotus tried running with a 2015-specification short nose on Grosjean's E22 at Circuit of The Americas, in place of the usual twin-tusk design, as the team ramps up an early development program for next year's car.

The Franco-Swiss driver said his two runs with the new nose in FP1 produced encouraging results, despite the fact he lapped 3.288 seconds off the pace and nine tenths adrift of the conventional E22 of teammate Pastor Maldonado.

"It was quite interesting: more consistent in a few corners, a bit more tricky in others," said Grosjean, when asked about his experience of the new nose. "We were supposed to do one run with it [but] I did two because I thought it was interesting to give it a go on the second run and see where it was going.

"We knew it was down in performance on the [conventional] E22, but what we really wanted to see was if it reacted as we thought, and the vortex and everything on the technical side was in the right place. I think the CFD, wind tunnel and my comments all goes in the same direction, which is quite positive.

"We didn't keep going because it's not done for that car, but the problems we had with this nose on this car is what we expected."

NO FONDNESS FOR TWIN TUSKS

Grosjean revealed during September's Italian GP that Lotus had abandoned development of the E22 to focus on next year. He said the team would still be at a disadvantage with its new nose design compared to the top outfits that have already been working with this type of design during 2014.

"I think it's working up nicely, but we're starting a long way down," Grosjean added. "If you look at Mercedes and Ferrari they already have the low nose.

"It's certainly going to be better next year. The [Mercedes] engine will help and I'm sure there are a few [other] areas where we can improve."

Grosjean said he wouldn't be sad to see the back of this year's twin-tusk design, which is being effectively outlawed for next year by a change in regulations.

"No I'm not sad," he admitted. "Three more races with this car and then send it to the bin! I'm sorry, but it's certainly not a car I will keep in my living room."