ROMAIN Grosjean believes the Austrian Grand Prix’s Spielberg circuit should suit the Enstone-based Lotus cars better on Sunday than the last two tracks they have encountered.

The Frenchman and his teammate, Pastor Maldonado, suffered retirements at the Canadian Grand Prix two weeks ago.

Grosjean fared better at Monaco on their previous outing, finishing eighth, but Maldonado failed to get off the grid due to a fuel supply issue.

Grosjean said: “We won’t know for sure until we’ve been out on track, but I don’t think the circuit should be as much of a challenge to us as Monaco or Montreal.

“Certainly there are fewer low speed corners, which seem to have been more difficult for us this season, and the downforce level could suit us better too.”

And he added: “Even though the end result in Canada might not show it, we’ve actually made good progress with the car and it’s starting to feel like a real racer in how it handles and how all the systems feel.”

Grosjean’s thoughts were echoed by Maldonado, who said: “I know the track, but it was maybe ten years ago when I last raced there and it will be new for me in an F1 car.

“I think it should be quite good for the E22.

“We will work hard to solve the problems we had in Canada, so that we can reach our targets in Austria.

“I’m certainly optimistic Austria will suit us better than the last two rounds.”