Romain Grosjean set for shock Haas F1 return

Romain Grosjean is set for a shock return to Formula 1 with Haas, who have confirmed that its former driver will complete a test.

Grosjean spent five seasons racing for Haas across 2016-2020, although was unable to depart the squad under normal circumstances. 

His final race in F1 was the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, where the Frenchman suffered his terrifying 67G fireball accident which saw his car pierce through a metal barrier. 

Injuries from that crash ruled him out of the season finale that year, halting the driver from a proper farewell. 

Now, five years on, Grosjean is set to return to the cockpit of a Haas F1 car. The American squad will field Grosjean in a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC test) on September 26 (this Friday) at Mugello. 

Grosjean, who has competed in IndyCar and endurance racing since his Haas exit, will be driving Haas' 2023 F1 car – the VF-23. 

It will be Grosjean's first experience of the current F1 regulations, while he will use a helmet which had been designed by his children for the 2020 season finale that he was unable to compete in.

"I’m incredibly grateful to Gene Haas and to Ayao Komatsu for inviting me to participate in the TPC at Mugello," said Grosjean. "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."

Grosjean's Mugello crew

For the TPC test, Grosjean will be reunited with several team personnel who worked on his side of the garage during his time with Haas. 

Team principal Ayao Komtasu will act as Grosjean's race engineer having held that role for the 39-year-old at Lotus, with Dominic Haines – the driver's race engineer in 2019 and 2020 – also being on-site to oversee the test. 

Ian Staniforth, Grosjean's long-serving number one race mechanic, will also be at the test in his current role of race team support chief mechanic. 

"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."

Ex-IndyCar driver and current F1TV pundit James Hinchcliffe will also be driving in the test for his F1 debut, as part of a feature for the official F1 broadcast.