Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA

Grosjean reveals he phoned Wolff after British GP remarks

Haas F1 driver Romain Grosjean has revealed he had a phone call with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff so as to resolve any lingering tensions in the aftermath of the British Grand Prix.

 Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team

Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team

Andrew Hone / Motorsport Images

Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG F1 Director of Motorsport
 Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team
 Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-17
Race winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1, on stage
 Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-17
 Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 Team VF-17

Grosjean had a grievance with Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton after qualifying at Silverstone, as he believed he lost two positions on the grid due to being impeded by the Briton.

And when Hamilton escaped sanction for the incident, Grosjean subsequently suggested the decision to let the Mercedes driver off was a sign of preferential treatment.

The Frenchman's words did not sit well with Hamilton's team boss Wolff, who dismissed Grosjean's complaints and said his past record of incidents meant he should be happy he's still an F1 driver.

Two weeks on, ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix race weekend, Grosjean has revealed he sought a chat with Wolff after becoming aware of the Austrian's comments.

"I saw the comments and I wasn't very happy. I arranged a phone call – good news is, I have his phone number," Grosjean joked.

"We had a great phone call, we explained [ourselves]. I think there are tensions, they're fighting for the world championship, probably some of my words were reported to Toto but in a different way and then he got a bit upset."

Grosjean said he regretted suggesting on team radio that Mercedes "needed better GPS", but clarified that he did not change his outlook on the incident itself.

"I didn't mean anything against Lewis or Mercedes, I was just saying that it cost me two positions on the grid," he said. "Starting P8 or P10 is a different matter in Formula 1 and we're all fighting for the same thing.

"So I do apologise I said the GPS wasn't good, which is not fair to Mercedes.

"But I'm still thinking that I was on the fast lap and I lost three tenths, so you know, it's a shame but it's behind. It's all good, we spoke with Toto, we're friends."

Asked whether Wolff expressed regret over his Silverstone remarks, Grosjean said: "I mean, it's in the heat of the moment. So, it's fine."

Additional reporting by Lawrence Barretto

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Dennis could walk away from McLaren with 13 historic cars
Next article Sauber-Honda engine deal cancelled

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA