Photo: Haas F1 Media.

'Romain didn't lose anything' - Grosjean praised after Haas test

18:16, 02 Oct

Updated: 18:33, 02 Oct

byLuke-John Buckle

Romain Grosjean's compatriot Esteban Ocon praised the Frenchman for his speed in re-adjusting to F1 machinery in his TPC test with Haas at Mugello.

"Romain didn't lose anything. He was straight away on pace."

- Esteban Ocon

Speaking in the FIA press conference ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, Ocon said he was delighted to be at the test in Italy.

He said: "It was awesome. And, you know, we had most of our employees who were there. It was a big Haas family day. Everyone was there to witness Romain driving an F1 car five years after his accident in Bahrain.

"And it was a day full of happiness and emotions, really, and I'm glad to have been there to witness it all. Romain didn't lose anything. He was straight away on pace. He knew everything on the steering wheel and everything, it's only been five years, but it's definitely a great day."

Romain Grosjean once again driving an F1 car - Photo: Haas F1 Media.

Grosjean had a fiery accident at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020, which meant he sat out the final round in Abu Dhabi.

The Frenchman never raced in F1 again and has since competed in both IndyCar and IMSA in North America.

It was a difficult end to a career that saw 10 podium finishes during Grosjean's stint with Lotus from 2012 to 2015. He then raced for the American team Haas from 2016 to 2020.

Russell and Norris were both delighted for Grosjean

Grosjean was delighted with the test at Mugello. Russell and Norris were both on the Formula 1 grid when Grosjean had the crash in 2020 and were pleased to see the Frenchman back in an F1 car.

Russell said: "For us who were sort of in the race and witnessing it, I still sort of remember it to this moment. Seeing the flames in my rearview mirror — extremely horrific to see.

"And I don't think anybody wants to end their career in that way, so to see him get a chance to go back out — he's obviously always been in great spirits ever since the incident."

Norris added: "Nice for him and the team. They probably didn't want it to end the way it did in some ways, or for those kind of things to happen.

"But he's been racing since. For him to get back into a Formula 1 car, his dream, and kind of get back probably some good memories that he had was a nice thing for him."

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