How did current Haas driver Esteban Ocon feel about seeing his predecessor Romain Grosjean back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car? The Franco-Swiss driver was allowed by the American team to take a seat in the Haas car again, five years after his horrific crash during the 2020 Bahrain GP. “It was amazing to be there,” Ocon shares.
Five years after his horrific crash during the 2020 Bahrain GP, Romain Grosjean stepped into a Formula 1 car again last Friday. The Franco-Swiss driver narrowly escaped death that day in 2020. His Haas car split in two after his crash – a 67G impact – into the barriers during the opening round. The car then caught fire. Fortunately, Grosjean was able to escape the flames, and miraculously only suffered burns on his hands from the incident.
Family Day
After the crash, Grosjean’s Formula 1 career was over. The driver moved on to IndyCar, but the premier class was still an unfinished chapter for him. Until last week. Once again, Grosjean was allowed to take a seat in the Haas – during a test day at the Mugello Circuit in Italy. “It was amazing,” Esteban Ocon reflects on the day in Singapore. “Almost all Haas employees were there, it was like a family day. Everyone was there to see Grosjean drive, and it was a day full of joy and emotions.”
“I’m glad I was there,” continues Ocon, who praises his predecessor for his laps in Italy. “Romain hadn’t lost any of his skills! He immediately got the pace, and knew everything about the steering wheel. Of course, it’s only been five years. It was definitely a great day for our small team. We are a big family, and even though it’s been five years, the team hasn’t forgotten that Romain was there from the early days of Haas. It was very special.”
