Emotional day for Romain Grosjean at Mugello: “Everyone applauded me”. Five years after his Bahrain crash, Romain Grosjean returned to an F1 car at Mugello with Haas.

Romain Grosjean moved at Mugello: “Everyone applauded me”

There are moments in life that reconnect us with the past, opportunities to close unfinished chapters. For Romain Grosjean, this must have been the case. Five years after his Bahrain accident, which deprived him of a proper farewell to Formula 1 and potentially something far more precious, he returned to driving a Haas F1 car. The day at Mugello was highly emotional for the French driver, who did not hold back tears.

Back on track

Romain Grosjean took to the Tuscan circuit in the Haas VF-23, participating in a TPC test session for cars at least two years old. It was his first time driving a Formula 1 car since the dramatic Bahrain Grand Prix crash, in which he survived both the impact with the barriers and the subsequent fire. The former Haas driver had the opportunity to overcome that moment, creating new memories in an F1 car on one of the world’s most beautiful circuits, where he had also raced in 2020.

Romain Grosjean reflected on the experience, saying it was five years after Bahrain 2020. He expressed his gratitude to the entire team, Gene Haas, and Ayao Komatsu for making it possible. Although it rained that day, he joked, “rainy day, lucky day.” Initially, he felt a little rusty, but quickly everything came back. He even performed a standing start, his first since Bahrain 2020, and this time it went much better. Grosjean described the day as a unique and deeply appreciated opportunity.

The standing ovation

The day was also profoundly moving on a personal level. Romain Grosjean reunited with several team members he had shared many adventures with since Haas’ debut in 2016. Staff from Ferrari and Pirelli, present at Mugello for 2026 tire tests, also contributed to giving Romain Grosjean the farewell he had missed at the end of 2020. He recalled seeing people who had been there in Australia 2016 and testing a new generation of F1 cars. By the end of the day, emotions overwhelmed him; he lowered his visor for the in-lap while everyone from Haas, Ferrari, and Pirelli applauded him with a standing ovation. Romain Grosjean noted that while he had expected a similar moment in Abu Dhabi 2020, today’s tribute was even more special.