For the first time since his fiery crash on the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, Romain Grosjean returns to a Formula 1 -cockpit in a test on Friday.
The Franco-Wiss driver participates in a testing from previous car (TPC) Run for former Haas team in Mugello, which controls the 2023 VF-23. Mugello held a single Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Tuscan Grand Prix, during the Covid-Stroked 2020 season, with Grosjean finished 12th for Haas in that race.
“I am incredibly grateful for Gene Haas and Ayao Komatsu for inviting me to participate in the TPC at Mugello,” said Grosjean. “To say that I am excited to get back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car, an understatement would of course be.
“I really can’t believe it was almost five years ago, but to come back and having this outing with my old team is really something special. I am excited to see everyone, I am sure that we will spend a little time on memories of the old days, but I also like to use the trackside agenda with the VF-23 HET that the team now has the team.
“Finally my children had designed my helmet for what was meant as my last Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi in 2020 – I can finally try it in a Formula 1 car on Friday.”
Much Van Haas’ Heritage Division – who runs the HAAS TPC program – was part of the Grosjean’s crew during his time driving for Haas, including Dominc Haines, who will oversee the day and rather the Race Engineer of Grosjean in 2019 and 20. Grosjean’s former no. 1 Racemechhanic Ian Staniforth will also be there in his current capacity as Race Team Support Chief, while the current Haas team head Ayao Komatsu Trackside Engineering was director during Grosjean’s Stint near Haas and his racing was an engineer at Lotus.
“I am absolutely happy to welcome Romain Grosjean for the first time in five years in a Formula 1 car, but above all proud that he returns to one of our cars – it is only appropriate,” Komatsu said.
“Romain and I worked together during his entire Formula 1 career, so this test at Mugello is important to both of us.
“I am happy that he embraced the chance to come back with us and to go back, a day that is made extra special by having so many members of the original crew back together to witness it.
“It should be a nice day and knowing Romain like me, I know he will want to give it all as usual – I would expect nothing less, not in the least, because we have already let it happen for a long time.”
The return of Grosjean behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car is long. He was previously set to test Mercedes’ Mercedes-AMG W10 EQ Power+ from Mercedes-the car that won the race where Grosjean had his accident the French Grand Prix of 2021, and even had a seat adjustment, but the run was canceled. Since leaving F1 after his crash, Grosjean has participated in 64 NTT Indycar series races for Dale Coyne Racing, Andretti Global and Juncos Hollinger Racing, with six stage finishes. He is also part of Lamborghini’s Factory Driver Line -up, racing nine times in the GTD Pro and GTP classes of the IMSA -Sportscar series since 2023.
In addition to Grosjean, six-time Indycar Race winner and 2016 Indianapolis 500 Polesitter James Hinchcliffe will also make his F1 bow, also the VF-23, as part of a function for F1 TV that is broadcast during the Grand Prix weekend of the United States.
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