Grosjean makes F1 return with Haas at Mugello

The 39-year-old, who raced five seasons for Haas from 2016 to 2020, survived one of F1’s most infamous crashes when his VF-20 split the barriers at 67G before bursting into flames. Grosjean escaped with burns to his hands but never raced in F1 again, moving to IndyCar after his recovery.

On Friday Grosjean will drive the Haas VF-23 at the Tuscan circuit, where he finished 12th in F1’s only race there in 2020. The test is part of Haas’ heritage and TPC programme and will be run by several of Grosjean’s former crew.

Among them will be Team Principal Ayao Komatsu, Grosjean’s long-time race engineer from his Lotus days when they scored 10 podiums together. Dominic Haines, his engineer during 2019-2020, and Ian Staniforth, his former No.1 mechanic, are also part of the Mugello line-up alongside other original Haas staff from Grosjean’s 98 starts with the team.

Komatsu said: “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.

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

"Knowing Romain as I do, I know he’ll want to give it his all as usual – we’ve talked about making this happen for a long time now," the Haas boss concluded.

For Grosjean, the comeback is both personal and symbolic; he 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," he explained.

Grosjean also revealed he will finally use a helmet designed by his children in 2020 for what was meant to be his farewell race in Abu Dhabi.

“I’m at last going to be able to give it a go in a Formula 1 car on Friday," Grosjean concluded.

The Mugello test will also feature James Hinchcliffe, the Canadian ex-IndyCar driver and F1TV broadcaster, who will sample a F1 car for the first time.

The six-time IndyCar race winner and 2016 Indianapolis 500 polesitter will drive the Haas VF-23 for a feature to be broadcast during the United States Grand Prix weekend next month.

For Grosjean and Haas, Friday’s test marks a poignant reunion – one that closes a chapter left unfinished in Bahrain nearly five years ago.