Romain Grosjean was applauded by team members from Haas and their rivals after he completed his first Formula 1 test since his shocking crash five years ago.
He returned to his former Haas team to drive a two-year-old VF-23 chassis in a test at the Mugello circuit in Italy.
He completed the test in wet conditions, which included a simulation of a standing start. “My last standing start was Bahrain 2020, so this time it turned out way better,” said Grosjean. His crash in Bahrain left him with burns to his hands which prevented him from participating in what should have been his final two grands prix.
Members of the other teams present for the test applauded Grosjean after he finished, “They made me cry,” he admitted.
“I kept my visor down, but for my last in-lap, everyone from Ferrari, Red Bull, Pirellis, and of course, Moneygram Haas F1 team was here clapping and giving me like an ovation. That’s something I was expecting in Abu Dhabi 2020, but I think it was even better today.”
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu, who was Grosjean’s race engineer earlier in their careers, is serving as his engineer for the day. Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur is also attending the test.
Grosjean drove for Haas for five seasons, beginning in 2016. He scored the team’s first points on its debut in F1 and helped them to their highest constructors’ championship position, fifth, in 2015.
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He was already set to leave the team at the end of the 2020 season when he suffered a horrific crash on the first lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix. His car struck an Armco barrier head-on and exploded in flames. Grosjean was able to climb out of the wreckage but suffered burns to his hands.
After leaving F1 he returned to racing in IndyCar and sportscars. His former IndyCar rival James Hinchcliffe was also due to have his first run in an F1 car at the same test today.
Video: Onboard lap with Grosjean at Mugello
Onboard lap with Romain Grosjean, who’s back in a Formula 1 car in the rain at Mugello.#F1
Pictures: Grosjean testing for Haas at Mugello
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