Romain Grosjean has thanked Haas for organising his farewell F1 check at Mugello.
The ten-time grand prix podium finisher lastly acquired the prospect to get again behind the wheel of an F1 automobile for the primary time since his miracle escape from his fireball crash on the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday on the Italian circuit.
Grosjean suffered extreme accidents within the 67G impression which break up his Haas automobile in half and dominated him out of the ultimate two races of the 2020 season, that means he didn’t get the prospect to wave a correct goodbye to F1.
Mercedes deliberate for Grosjean to check one in all their F1 vehicles in 2021 however COVID-19 restrictions pressured it to be postponed.
However the 39-year-old Frenchman lastly acquired his alternative due to his former group Haas.
Grosjean drove a 2023 VF-23 Haas on a moist Mugello monitor on Friday and admitted he was a bit “rusty” as he acquired again up to the mark.
“5 years after Bahrain, right here we’re at Mugello. Large due to MoneyGram Haas F1 Crew, it was a big day,” Grosjean mirrored.
“In fact group Haas, Ayao Komatsu, they made it occur. I drove the automobile. It was a moist day, it was a wet, completely satisfied day. Simply improbable.
“I felt a bit rusty, simply at first after which the whole lot got here again.”
Grosjean greeted with emotional ovation
Grosjean additionally accomplished a standing begin – his first because the lights went out moments earlier than his terrifying accident that shocked the F1 world 5 years in the past.
“I even acquired to do a standing begin and guess what, my final standing begin was Bahrain 2020, so this time it turned out manner higher,” he exclaimed.
“I’m very grateful for a really distinctive alternative, attending to see a few of the folks from Australia 2016 and get to drive the brand new era of vehicles.
“It was improbable and once more, I’m very, very grateful. There aren’t any different phrases.”
Grosjean revealed his Haas crew, in addition to workers from Ferrari and Pink Bull who had been additionally in testing motion, welcomed him with a standing ovation as he returned to the pits for the ultimate time.
“It made me cry on the finish of the day,” he defined. “I saved my visor down for my final in-lap, everybody from Ferrari, Pink Bull, Pirelli and naturally Haas was right here clapping and giving me an ovation.
“That was one thing I used to be anticipating in Abu Dhabi 2020 however I feel it was even higher at this time.”
