Romain Grosjean was happy with his revamped Lotus in British Grand Prix qualifying, but knows that unless the Norfolk marque can work out this weekend's tyre puzzle they will fail to keep pressure on Formula One's leading pack.
Grosjean recovered from recent criticism to out-qualify team-mate Kimi Raikkonen on Saturday, starting a place ahead of the Finn with eighth on the grid for Sunday's race at Silverstone.
But while an improved and substantial upgrade package on Grosjean's E21 seemed to work well, there is plenty more for Lotus to work out in time for lights out.
'Upgrades are worth one tenth (of a second) or two tenths – that would be a very big upgrade – yet you've got tyres where you can be one second or one and a half seconds off the pace just because you don't make them work,' said Grosjean.
'So with the upgrades, we have different things on both cars. Kimi has got a double DRS and I've got the new rear bodywork. They are working, which is good. But everything is about that rubber on the four corners.'
Still, Grosjean hopes things can come together.
'I love this track,' he added. 'You can never know until the chequered flag comes what you can achieve but we will do our best.'
Much like the second half of last season, Grosjean has come under pressure for a handful of collisions and inconsistent support alongside Raikkonen.
But when Grosjean gets it right, he has already proven just how quick he can be – so maybe it's no surprise the Frenchman remains relaxed about where he is currently at.
'I feel not too bad,' he smiled. 'I've had a lot of hard luck recently but it was so bad it couldn't stay like that and it has to turn at one stage, and hopefully it has now turned.'
So does he feel like he needs a good result form Silverstone this weekend?
'Not really – I'll just do my best,' Grosjean added – still smiling.
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