IndyCar driver Romain Grosjean left Formula 1 in 2020 after successive nine seasons. In this article, we explore the reasons behind the Swiss and French driver's departure from F1.
After making his debut with Renault in the 2009 season, Romain Grosjean competed in various motorsports series around the globe before returning to Formula 1 in 2012. After an initial stint with the now-defunct Lotus, Grosjean moved to Haas F1 in 2016, a team he would compete in for five seasons.
In his first season with Haas, Grosjean partnered with Mexican driver Esteban Gutierrez. In the very next season, Gutierrez was replaced by Kevin Magnussen, as the Dane went on to remain Grosjean's partner for the remainder of the latter's F1 career.
In the last Formula 1 race of Romain Grosjean's career, the Swiss-French driver suffered the fateful crash that'll become the highlight of his career. The then-34-year-old collided with Daniil Kvyat's AlphaTauri in the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, resulting in one of the most gruesome crashes the sport has ever seen.
After his car split in two halves and fire erupted, Grosjean miraculously walked out of the wreckage nearly 30 seconds later. He underwent surgeries for his injuries and burns, missing out on the remainder of the season.
Initially supposed to mark a historic return to Formula 1, Grosjean, in a surprising turn of events, moved over to the United States, now competing in IndyCar. In an interview with Chris Medland of Motor Sport Magazine, Grosjean revealed the reasons behind his departure from Haas. He said:
“It’s quite funny, I was sitting right here, talking to my wife at 7pm, and one day I said ‘I’m not carrying on with Haas.’
“By the time I’d finished my sentence, Guenther [Steiner, Haas team boss] called and told me that he needed funding, he needed pay drivers to keep it going, but for me I was gone already and finished in F1.”
Romain Grosjean was already "done" with Haas from the beginning of 2020
Grosjean further revealed that his frustrations had peaked during the first race of the 2020 season. He said (via Motor Sport):
"I was done from the first race in 2020. We had not done any testing in four months, we went out in the first Free Practice, first lap I lost the brakes in Turn 3 and in the race again I lost the brakes.
“I thought ‘You know what? That team is going nowhere. There is no opportunity, nothing you can show with that car.’"
Following his departure, Romain Grosjean moved to Dale Coyne Racing for the 2021 campaign. A one-season stint was followed by two years with Andretti Motorsports. For the 2024 campaign, Grosjean drove for Juncos Hollinger Racing.