F1: Lotus addresses Grosjean's FP1 fears

The Lotus Formula 1 team understands Romain Grosjean's concerns over giving up free practice sessions to Jolyon Palmer this year, but it believes it is doing the right thing.

Palmer, last year's GP2 champion, is currently biding his time as Lotus' reserve (pictured), but in contrast to others who have previously occupied the role, the 24-year-old is learning the F1 ropes with 10 FP1 sessions this year. Grosjean has expressed frustration over the arrangement, saying that having to make way for the Briton is affecting his race weekends.

"Drivers are always going to battle within teams," Lotus CEO Matthew Carter told AUTOSPORT. "Romain has known since before the season started this would be the situation, with specific grands prix where Jolyon would do FP1 mapped out from day one.

"As far as we're concerned, we really think Jolyon is a future talent and we want to try and give him as much time as we can in the car. From Romain's point of view, of course, a driver likes to build into a weekend by going through all the sessions, and I can understand his frustration. But we can't please everyone all the time, and as Jolyon has previously pointed out, Romain's results have been good.

"The situation is not ideal, but the pair of them are making the most of it at the moment, and I certainly don't see any ill feeling between them."

Grosjean and teammate Pastor Maldonado both have contracts until the end of 2016 with Lotus, suggesting that Palmer will have to bide his time if he is to land a race seat with the team.

"Jolyon is a competent race driver; you don't win GP2 unless you are a very good race driver, and he is going to push for a race seat," added Carter. "Whether that seat is with us or someone else on the grid, he needs to get in the car and show what he can do, and we are giving him the opportunity to do that.

"We're evaluating him – we know what he does in the simulator, with his feedback brilliant from that to the car. Jolyon is doing very well and we're pleased with the way it's going. But at the moment the drivers are under contract; Jolyon is aware he has to be patient.

"If you want something badly enough – and with only 20 F1 drivers out there it's a fairly elite club – then you have to exercise patience."

Originally on Autosport.com