Lotus F1 driver Grosjean braced for more FP1 frustration in 2016

Grosjean has made no secret this year of his unhappiness at as the team provide reserve Jolyon Palmer with plenty of time at the wheel of the E23.

With Grosjean and team-mate Pastor Maldonado both under contract for next year, Lotus could well take the same approach with Palmer in 2016.

Speaking to AUTOSPORT about the prospect of continuing to miss FP1 sessions, Grosjean said: "There are days when there are no choices available and you just take it as it comes, accept it and deal with it.

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"This year when they told me I would have to give up 10 FP1 sessions I was really pissed off, and I told them it was not fair, and so on.

"But this is just the way it is, you accept it and at the end you say that without it the team would probably not run.

"If it's the same line-up again next year I don't think I would have any influence in what happens."

Having missing out on crucial set-up work in the opening 90 minutes at various events, Grosjean says he is proud of how he has responded.

"Come the end of FP2 it's kind of satisfying to finish ahead of your team-mate, or be top five, as has been the case in a few events recently," he said.

"You think to yourself, 'that's what I can do straight away', particularly when you have had to squeeze out a shitload of work, with eight laps on the prime tyres and three on the options, and you need to get all the information you can.

"The relationship I have with my engineers makes all this possible, and means we can concentrate on everything.

"Of course you're going to miss a little bit here and there, it's never going to be perfect, not unless you get lucky and everything you try works together at the same time.

"But I think in general we're going a good job."

Mid-season Formula 1 driver ratings

Grosjean has gone on to finish in the points on five occasions this season, with a best finish of seventh in China, Bahrain, and most recently Hungary.

It is a stark improvement on 2014, when Grosjean finished eighth twice in Spain and Monaco, which proved to be the only occasions he claimed a top-10 place.

"It's definitely big step from last year, with the car from day one very much better," Grosjean surmised.

"We've missed some opportunities and had a few troubles, but in general we've been working well together getting the best out of the car most of the time."

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Lotus F1 driver Grosjean braced for more FP1 frustration in 2016

Lotus driver Romain Grosjean is steeling himself for another season of sitting on the sidelines while Formula 1's first-practice sessions unfold