Grosjean: German GP key to saving Haas seat
Romain Grosjean says this year’s German Grand Prix was the crucial point he knew he had turned around his form and could save his Formula 1 seat with Haas.
The American team announced last week that it will field Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen for a third year in 2019.
Grosjean has been with Haas since its debut in 2016 but is place was under threat following a bad run of form earlier this year that included high-profile errors in Azerbaijan and Spain.
Asked to pinpoint a key moment in his turnaround, Grosjean said: "Germany. It was the point and I knew it, I found what were the issues before and worked them through.
"I knew from Germany I was back on form."
Grosjean was denied a likely top-five finish in the season opener in Australia but Haas botched its pitstops and both cars retired.
That prompted a point-less run of eight races at the start of the year that was ended emphatically in Austria, where Grosjean finished fourth to record Haas's best result in F1.
"Things had to turn at one point," he said. "The season looked worse than it was actually was sometimes because of bad luck.
"Bahrain I was in the points and lost half the car [when bodywork broke], then Canada I think I was scoring points and didn't make qualifying.
"Silverstone was the time when [I thought], 'OK, I need to understand things and make sure that things are going my way all the time'. Then Germany and Hungary I knew I was back on track."
Grosjean said he had changed "a few personal issues from work life to personal life" that became "a big thing" when combined.
He praised the team for giving him the opportunity to address his form before making a decision.
"They know what I have done for the team and I think they were patient and that was great," he said.
"They are racers and they do understand racing and there were no reasons for me not to be the same as before.
"There are a lot of drivers willing to drive for no money or no salary, so it is not easy to keep your seat.
"But experience is something you cannot buy and I guess for a team like Haas that is still developing and growing, an experienced driver is very important."
Previous article
The F1 drivers who risk disaster to achieve the impossible
Next article
Messing with qualifying risks hurting "value" of GP win
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Romain Grosjean |
| Author | Scott Mitchell |
Sebastian Vettel explains why Aston Martin
Aston Martin AMR21 Unveiling
The updates Williams hopes will lead to a point-scoring return
After producing a car which demonstrated progress but lacked the points to prove it last year, Williams starts its new era of team ownership with the FW43B, its bid to continue the climb up the Formula 1 grid in 2021
How Ferrari plans to recover from its 2020 F1 nightmare
The 2020 Formula 1 season was Ferrari's worst for 40 years as it slumped to sixth in the standings. A repeat performance will not be acceptable for the proud Italian team, which has adopted a notably pragmatic approach to forging its path back to the top
Why Aston Martin’s arrival is more than just new green livery
In the most eagerly anticipated Formula 1 team launch of the season, the rebranded Aston Martin squad’s changes go much further than the striking paint job. But rather than a restart, the team hopes to build on top of solid foundations.
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end
