Romain Grosjean glad he stayed quiet over Lotus F1 team pay issues
Romain Grosjean thought it right that he keep a lid on the Lotus Formula 1 team's 2013 financial difficulties, rather than blowing them into the open like Kimi Raikkonen did
Speaking after revealing that he had finally been paid by the Enstone-based team, Grosjean confessed that last season's money troubles were a cause for concern at the time.
But he said he preferred to put personal interests to one side in support of the team, rather than going public in a bid to get paid.
That stance was different to Raikkonen, who spoke openly about the issue and then came close to not racing in Abu Dhabi because of his wages dispute.
"It was certainly not the way we wanted things to go," explained Grosjean. "I never opened my mouth in front of the media, because that was my own business, and that was my own personal thing.
"Kimi kind of launched the whole thing.
"It wasn't easy for the guys, and things have not been made right always, but on the other hand everyone stayed together.
"The team spirit has always been there, and even though things were not as good as we would have loved them to be, the results were still there. So everyone was keeping their head down and pushing hard."
A management shake-up at Lotus following the departure of Eric Boullier, allied to a financial restructuring, has left Grosjean convinced the team is in much better shape - even if it is facing some on-track struggles.
"At least we don't have the problems that we could face in the past - which is a good advantage especially in a tough situation," he said.
"We work as hard as we can together and, of course, when you come from two successful years and you get to a more difficult season, it can be quite different.
"But everyone is trying as hard as they can to get the car as good as we can to move forward, and not blame something he shouldn't.
"We are moving forward and staying forward, united, and at the end we are all in the same boat."
Lotus F1 team says money troubles were blown out of proportion
Nico Hulkenberg didn't expect his strong start to 2014 F1 season
Why the future is bright for the British GP
It wasn’t so long ago the situation looked bleak at Silverstone with the future of the British Grand Prix under threat. But a transformation has seen it restored to one of the most important races on the Formula 1 calendar, with bigger and better to come
Could mixed fortunes for F1's leading Brits turn around at Silverstone?
For the first time in many years, none of the local racers starts among the favourites for the British Grand Prix. But George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris could have reasons for optimism
Verstappen exclusive: Why F1’s champion isn’t fazed by Silverstone return
Max Verstappen is the world’s number one racing driver… and he’s determined to keep it that way. Speaking exclusively to GP Racing's OLEG KARPOV, the Red Bull driver explains why he’s relishing the 2022 championship battle with Charles Leclerc – and why he’s not worried about returning to Silverstone, the scene of the biggest accident of his career last year
Why Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar can help its F1 team
On Tuesday, Red Bull laid out its plans to develop and build a new hypercar - the RB17 - penned by Adrian Newey. As the project itself sates Newey as a creative outlet, it also offers Red Bull's Formula 1 team a number of new and exciting avenues to pursue
What to expect from Mercedes as F1 returns to Silverstone
OPINION: The British Grand Prix is a home event for Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, with their Mercedes team based just a few miles away too. But there’s another reason why the Silver Arrows squad is eager to arrive at Silverstone this weekend, which may help it fix its remaining problems with its 2022 Formula 1 challenger
The “solemn promise” that cost quiet hero Brooks an F1 title
After two terrifying crashes, one of the best British racers of the 1950s retired before his career peaked. But that’s why GP Racing’s MAURICE HAMILTON was able to speak to Tony Brooks in 2014. Like his friend Stirling Moss, Brooks was regarded as one of the best drivers never to have won the world championship. Here, as our tribute to Brooks who died last month, is that interview in full
Inside the Faenza facility where AlphaTauri’s F1 pragmatic vision is realised
AlphaTauri’s mission in F1 is to sell clothes and train young drivers rather than win the championship – but you still need a cutting-edge factory to do that. Team boss Franz Tost takes GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV on a guided tour of a facility that’s continuing to grow
Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career