Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus E21. Formula One World Championship, Rd12, Italian Grand Prix, Practice, Monza, Italy, Friday, 6 September 2013. © Sutton Images
“Parabolica is a very challenging and quick corner so from a safety point of view it is a good thing to have some more margin for the drivers,” said Grosjean.
“I remember sometimes in the past coming into the corner and knowing that if you brake even a little bit too late then you could be straight in the gravel and then straight to the wall at high speed.
“I think that now what you will see is the drivers finding the limits sooner, because we know there will not be the big gravel and crash penalty like previously.”
Team mate Maldonado, meanwhile, does not expect the switch to asphalt run-off to change the way the drivers approach the corner, insisting the right-hander will remain the most critical bend on the circuit.
“You have to get this right at the end of your lap to ensure a good time, and if you get it wrong it also compromises you for the next lap,” he said. “It’s difficult to do this as the car is set-up for low downforce on the straights, so it’s more difficult to drive on the corners - especially a long corner like Parabolica, which is tough and fast, the most crucial at Monza.
“I don’t think [the decision to replace the gravel with asphalt] will make too much difference really. The approach will be the same which is to take it as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“Of course there is the obvious safety element which means that you have less risk if you go off. I think this is good from a safety point of view because it is a quick corner with not that much room on the outside.”