Romain Grosjean can be again within the cockpit of a Haas when he takes half in a TPC at Mugello on Friday.
The 39-year-old spent 5 seasons competing for Haas from 2016 to 2020 – his time in Formulation 1 ending abruptly following a horrific opening lap accident on the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020.
He survived each the barrier affect – measured at 67G – in addition to the hearth that adopted, extracting himself from the wreckage together with his accidents restricted to burns to the again of his fingers, testimony to the tireless security measures that proceed to be carried out within the sport.
Again in Haas colors on Friday, Grosjean will strap into the cockpit of the VF-23 at Mugello – a observe the place he holds a twelfth place end from Formulation 1’s sole go to to the picturesque and sweeping 15-turn circuit – the Tuscan Grand Prix, held in 2020 through the sport’s diminished COVID-impacted season.
Overseeing Friday’s observe actions can be members of Grosjean’s authentic crew, lots of whom now work on the TPC and heritage applications being run by the American squad. Staff Principal, Ayao Komatsu – who was Grosjean’s race engineer once they beforehand labored collectively at Lotus F1 Staff scoring 10 podiums – will function race engineer as soon as once more at Mugello, Komatsu having adopted the Frenchman to Haas as Chief Race Engineer again in 2016.
Dominic Haines can even be on-site to supervise proceedings, the Englishman was previously Grosjean’s race engineer from 2019-2020 and he at present serves as Heritage Chief Engineer. Grosjean’s long-serving No.1 Race Mechanic, Ian Staniforth, can even be current in his present capability as Race Staff Assist Chief Mechanic, with a number of further workforce members on the operational and storage facet additionally in attendance having labored with Grosjean all through his 98 race begins with Haas.
“I am completely thrilled to be welcoming Romain Grosjean again right into a Formulation 1 automotive for the primary time in 5 years however particularly proud he is returning in one among our vehicles… it is solely becoming,” stated Komatsu. “Romain and I’ve labored collectively all through his whole Formulation 1 profession so this check at Mugello is of specific significance to us each.
“I am delighted he embraced the chance to come back and get again behind the wheel with us, a day that is going to be made further particular by having so many members of the unique crew again collectively to witness it. It must be a enjoyable day and understanding Romain as I do, I do know he’ll need to give it his all as standard, I would anticipate nothing much less, not least as we have talked about making this occur for a very long time now.”
“I am extremely grateful to Gene Haas and to Ayao Komatsu for inviting me to take part within the TPC,” added Grosjean. “To say I am excited to get again behind the wheel of a Formulation 1 automotive would naturally be an understatement.
“I actually cannot consider it has been nearly 5 years, however to come back again and have this outing with my previous workforce is actually one thing particular. I am excited to see everybody, I am certain we’ll spend a little bit of time reminiscing in regards to the previous days, however I am additionally eager to be of use relating to the trackside agenda with the VF-23… it is nice the workforce now has the TPC program as a part of its on-going growth.
“Lastly, my youngsters had designed my helmet for what was meant to be my closing grand prix in Abu Dhabi again in 2020, I am finally going to have the ability to give it a go in a Formulation 1 automotive on Friday.”
Friday’s check can even see ex-IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe making his debut in a Formulation 1 automotive, the Canadian F1TV broadcaster, a six-time IndyCar race winner and former Indy 500 pole sitter, getting a check of the VF-23 as a part of a function for Formulation 1’s official TV channel set to air throughout the US Grand Prix weekend subsequent month.
Now, what about that outing within the championship successful Mercedes that Toto Wolff promised Grosjean.
