ENSTONE’S Lotus F1 team endured a nightmare Italian Grand Prix as both drivers were forced to retire in the opening two laps.

Pastor Maldonado parked his car at the end of the first lap in Monza after contact with Nico Hulkenberg damaged his front suspension.

Teammate Romain Grosjean was also involved in a collision at the first corner, this time with Felipe Nasr, and was forced out in the second lap.

Grosjean, who had qualified eighth, said: “We had the potential of a good race ahead of us.

“I made a strong start but got hit by a car from behind in turn one which broke my rear suspension so that was it for us.”

Maldonado added: “Everyone knows that turn one at Monza can be tough and that’s what we saw.”

The team now heads to Singapore on September 18-20.

  • CHIPPING Norton’s Sean Walkinshaw and teammate Craig Dolby collected their first Blancpain Sprint Series points since July with eighth place at Portimao in Portugal.

Walkinshaw said: “The results weren’t what we hoped for this weekend but the pace was really strong and the car felt fantastic.”