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Former Haas driver Romain Grosjean made his return to Formula 1 on Friday, entering an F1 racing car for the first time since his devastatingly memorable accident in Bahrain. Haas chose Grosjean for the Mugello test, which involved doing developmental work for Pirelli, while hopping into the VF-23 car from 2023. Grosjean drove for the team from 2016 to 2020, one half of the team’s first driver line-up. He left the sport after a collision with the barriers, which left his car in flames. For a moment, viewers wondered if he would walk out of the fire alive, though Grosjean would eventually walk out and recover, going on to race in IMSA and IndyCar. MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – OCTOBER 26: Romain Grosjean during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 26, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Song Haiyuan/MB Media/Getty Images) More news: From Louis Vuitton to Tag Heuer: Formula 1 is Becoming the Sport of Luxury Brands He was already going to leave Haas after the season, but he did not manage to get his farewell at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2020, making his test all the more sweet. “I’m incredibly grateful to Gene Haas and to Ayao Komatsu for inviting me to participate in the TPC [Testing of Previous Cars] program at Mugello,” Grosjean said. “To say I’m excited to get back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car would naturally be an understatement. “I really can’t believe it’s been almost five years, but to come back and have this outing with my old team is truly something special. I’m excited to see everyone, I’m sure we’ll spend a bit of time reminiscing about the old days, but I’m also keen to be of use regarding the trackside agenda with the VF-23—it’s great the team now has the TPC program as part of its on-going development. “Finally, my kids had designed my helmet for what was meant to be my final grand prix in Abu Dhabi back in 2020—I’m at last going to be able to give it a go in a Formula 1 car on Friday.”More news: F1’s Fastest Lap Ever? Max Verstappen Breaks Long-Standing Record What is next for Grosjean? Now that Grosjean has finished his story with Haas, Grosjean could still pursue other options on the F1 grid. Cadillac’s new F1 team could potentially utilize an experienced driver like Grosjean to serve as a test driver, helping to steer the direction the car takes. The American team lacks a benchmark for performance, and having Grosjean could help provide another data point for the car designers to consider. More news: Formula 1 Set to Announce New U.S. Broadcast Partner Soon He has also expressed interest in returning to IndyCar, which could be on the cards. Grosjean is currently the active Prema Racing reserve driver in IndyCar. Considering his popularity, he could transition into a pundit role for either F1 or IndyCar. He is a well-travelled driver who should provide meaningful insights. For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
