Romain Grosjean: Back home 🎥
PRELIMINARY END OF F1 CAREER Romain Grosjean, who crashed at the Bahrain GP, is on his way home to Switzerland. This probably ends the Formula 1 career of the Geneva driver who started for France. After three days in hospital, the Geneva native returned to the Bahrain GP circuit on Thursday. There he thanked helpers involved in his rescue [...]
After three days in hospital, the Geneva native returned to the Bahrain GP circuit on Thursday. There he thanked helpers who were involved in his rescue.
On Sunday, a few hours before the start of the Sakhir GP, the HaasF1 team announced the return of Romain Grosjean to Switzerland. Here, specialists will continue to treat the burns on both backs of his hands suffered in the accident a week ago.
His health is good enough to travel home alone. However, Grosjean would have preferred to somehow still contest the last race of the season in Abu Dhabi. Doctors and team officials advised against this.
Last wish remains unfulfilled
It's great that the Frenchman, who started for France, survived the horrendous accident so well. However, everyone would have wished him a different sporting exit from Formula 1 - including himself.
Romain Grosjean: "I'm very sad that I won't be able to contest my last race in Abu Dhabi and be with the team again. We tried everything with the doctor, but the health risk would be too great. Not racing is one of the hardest decisions of my life, but obviously one of the wisest. I will miss the team and support it from afar."
No more cockpit
Whether the unlucky driver will return to a Grand Prix, and in what capacity, is uncertain. Because Grosjean no longer has a GP cockpit for 2021, nor does his Danish teammate Kevin Magnussen. They will be replaced by Mick Schumacher and the Russian Nikita Mazepin.
A little side note: Like Grosjean, the son of the seven-time world champion was born in Switzerland (on March 22, 1999 in Vufflens-le-Château), but will of course compete under the German nationality of his parents Michael and Corinna as before.
Weak season
What is certain is that 2020 will be Grosjean's worst season in four years with HaasF1 and in Formula 1 at all. Only two points are on his account. Magnussen even has just one point, which therefore points more to the weakness of the U.S. team this year than to that of its experienced drivers.
The 34-year-old French-Swiss experienced his heyday in 2012 and 2013 with the Lotus F1 team. With him, Grosjean achieved a total of ten podium finishes, including two second places - only one GP victory is missing from his palmarès.
