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    12 June 2012| last updated at 08:04AM

    FORMULA ONE: Grosjean surprised with second placing



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    MONTREAL: Romain Grosjean admitted finishing second in Sunday's action-packed Canadian Grand Prix had come as a shock as he did not think a podium finish was possible.

       The 26-year-old Lotus driver, who qualified seventh for the race, took full  advantage of a one-stop race strategy and gained three places during the final  laps and eventually wound up just two-and-a-half seconds adrift of race-winner  Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.

       The Frenchman was stuck in fifth place before drivers in front of him began  to lose grip during the final stages of the race.

       German Nico Rosberg of Mercedes and Red Bull driver Mark Webber were forced  to pit, Grosjean then eased past Fernando Alonso who was also struggling for  pace.

       Alosnso said: "We thought about going for one-stop and decided to see what was going on later on.

       "The question was whether to go with the option tyres from the beginning,  especially since they had already done two runs in Q2 and Q3.

       "But then the car felt pretty good and when we put the prime tyre on, I  didn't know what was going on in front of me. I had Nico Rosberg and Mark  Webber in front, so I was fighting with them and was pushing quite hard, but I  knew that I was trying to go for a one stop and finally when I saw Mark coming  in my tyres were still quite fresh."

       Grosjean admitted he had not felt a top three finish was possible and paid tribute to his team for building a car that was kind to his tyres.

       "I didn't realise I was third and then I saw Fernando (Alonso) was slowing  down and I was second. So it was like a crazy end to the race, because I was  thinking P4 or P5, but the pace stayed there.

       "The team did a fantastic job to give me a car which was good on tyres, we  knew with the heat we would be better today and thankfully the sun came and  that was fantastic for us." AFP

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