Romain Grosjean says his deliberate F1 check with Mercedes, as promised by group boss Toto Wolff in 2021, remains to be on the playing cards however the former Haas driver takes accountability for the delay, stating “It’s all my fault”.
Within the wake of Grosjean’s harrowing fiery crash on the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, which pressured the Haas driver to abruptly conclude his System 1 profession, Mercedes prolonged a compassionate gesture to the Frenchman by providing him a swansong F1 check outing.
Grosjean underwent a seat becoming at Brackley in 2021 whereas a number of demo runs have been scheduled through the French Grand Prix weekend at Paul Ricard, with a correct monitor day going down the next week.
Sadly, Covid points let to unexpected modifications to F1’s calendar, forcing Mercedes to scrap that plan, whereas organising an alternate date and venue proved tough given Grosjean’s full-time IndyCar agenda.
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Over two years later, the check has but to materialize however the alternative stays alive insists Grosjean.
“Sure, completely. We haven’t discovered the time but – and sure, it’s all my fault,” he informed GP Racing. “It’s not straightforward although – I’m 30 race weekends subsequent yr [in 2024].
“You guys complain about 24 in F1 and I’ve 18 in IndyCar, seven in endurance and 5 in F1 with Canal+ [as a commentator]. So it’s not straightforward so as to add a check.”
Grosjean will race this season within the NTT IndyCar Collection with Juncos Hollinger Racing, whereas he’ll additionally compete in chosen IMSA occasions with Iron Lynx on the wheel of its Lamborghini LMDh automotive.
The 37-year-old admits that one profit to his delayed check with Mercedes is that when it takes place, as a result of F1 groups are solely permitted to run automobiles which are not less than two years previous, he’ll probably be capable of pattern a present technology ground-effect automotive.
“Very selfishly, I’m attempting to delay it to the purpose the place I can truly check a brand new technology of automobiles,” Grosjean acknowledged.
“However yeah, I’m nonetheless eager to do it and at any time when I see Toto he at all times confirms that it’s going to occur. Sure, it could be very cool to get again in an F1 automotive.”
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