Grosjean to drive F1 car for first time since 2020 Bahrain GP crash in special outing with Haas

Romain Grosjean will drive a Formula 1 car for the first time since his dramatic crash in the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix when he gets behind the wheel of a 2023-spec Haas during a test at Mugello on Friday.

Grosjean’s Haas was engulfed in flames when he crashed through the barriers on the opening lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020, leaving him with extensive burns on both hands.

It turned out to be his 179th and final Grand Prix, with the Frenchman going on to compete in the IndyCar series in America, taking six podiums and three poles over the course of four seasons.

On Friday, he will return to a Formula 1 car following an invite from his former team Haas, with whom he spent five seasons competing between 2016 and 2020, when he drives the VF-23 in a Testing of Previous Car (TPC) test.

Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu, who was Grosjean’s race engineer when they worked together at Lotus, will once again serve as his race engineer at Mugello.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be welcoming Romain Grosjean back into a Formula 1 car for the first time in five years but especially proud he’s returning in one of our cars – it’s only fitting,” said Komatsu.

“Romain and I have worked together throughout his entire Formula 1 career so this test at Mugello is of particular significance to us both.

“I’m delighted he embraced the opportunity to come and get back behind the wheel with us, a day that’s going to be made extra special by having so many members of the original crew back together to witness it.

“It should be a fun day and knowing Romain as I do, I know he’ll want to give it his all as usual – I’d expect nothing less, not least as we’ve talked about making this happen for a long time now.”

Grosjean added: “I’m incredibly grateful to Gene Haas and to Ayao Komatsu for inviting me to participate in the TPC at Mugello.

“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.”

Ex-IndyCar driver and F1 TV broadcaster James Hinchcliffe will get his first chance to drive a Formula 1 car on Friday when he drives the same VF-23 as part of a feature for F1 TV.