Pastor Maldonado (and below)

Lotus has qualified 13th and 15th for today’s US Grand Prix. In extremely wet and slippery conditions, both drivers proceeded to the second qualifying session but were unable to break into the top 10 for this afternoon’s race. Both drivers gain two positions on the grid as a result of penalties for other competitors, meaning Grosjean starts in P11 and Maldonado in P13.

Romain Grosjean, E23-04. Q: P13, starts P11, 2:00.595:
“Conditions were certainly very hard for everyone out there. We knew our relative performance on the wet tyres wouldn’t be as good as it is in the dry. We pushed as hard as we could to get into the top ten but we just couldn’t make it. The rain fell harder in Q2 and it became too wet to run any further laps.”

Pastor Maldonado, E23-03. Q: P15, starts P13, 2:01.604:
“At the end of Q2 it was raining too much which made it very tricky. I found it very difficult with our car as even staying on a line was tough. The rear was very unstable and we had a lot of oversteer. The track itself was too wet for the last few laps so I can understand why Q3 didn’t take place.”

Alan Permane, Trackside Operations Director:
How was qualifying? “For the drivers it was a game of finding some clear track away from the spray and maximising the opportunities when the track was at its driest. It rained all through the session so it was difficult for everyone out there. The conditions were very poor at the end of Q2 which was highlighted by Q3 being aborted.”

What are the considerations for the race? “The weather is obviously the primary consideration. It’s raining right now and we’re watching the skies and the satellite maps very closely.”

Romain Grosjean (and below)