Grosjean denies reverting to 2012 ’nutcase’

Romain Grosjean has hit back at suggestions he has reverted to the much-derided ’nutcase’ of 2012, insisting F1 drivers should be racing hard.

After Monaco, Frenchman Grosjean - penalised ten grid places at Montreal for his crash with Daniel Ricciardo - and Sergio Perez were heavily criticised for their racing antics.

"People like to write and talk, it’s never fun," Grosjean is quoted by France’s RMC in Montreal.

"People started to say ’it’s the Romain Grosjean of last year’. No, it’s not," he insisted.

"This was Monaco, where it is always difficult to try to pass."

Brazil’s Totalrace quotes Grosjean adding: "I tried to pass and it didn’t work. What do you want? That we all line up and don’t compete?"

Meanwhile, Williams’ Pastor Maldonado - similarly criticised for getting involved in too many incidents last year - defended Mexican Perez, who came under heavy fire after Monaco.

"It’s hard to criticise what happens on the track. I think Sergio did his race," the Venezuelan said.

"I don’t think we should criticise him for racing."

Perez and an angry Kimi Raikkonen on Thursday continued to disagree about their Monaco incident via the press, and were then seated next to one another as they signed autographs for Canadian fans.

"Awkward," Lotus, whose Raikkonen had threatened to punch Perez after Monaco, joked on its official Twitter on Thursday.