F1 | Romain Grosjean returns to the track with Haas at Mugello, five years after his crash. Romain Grosjean made an emotional return to Formula 1 at Mugello with Haas.

Romain Grosjean made his highly anticipated return to an F1 car at the Mugello circuit, getting back behind the wheel of a Haas. The French driver took to the track in the 2023 Haas for a TPC test, effectively driving a Formula 1 car again after his horrific crash in Bahrain in 2020.

This opportunity was made possible by the American team, which organized the on-track activity. The memory of that fiery crash at the Sakhir circuit remains etched in everyone’s mind. Grosjean had miraculously escaped the burning car on his own after experiencing a 69G impact, showcasing the incredible advances in F1 safety since then.

Reaction after the tests

After completing the Mugello session, Romain Grosjean shared his feelings about returning to the Haas cockpit. He said it was a special day, five years after the accident, and he expressed his gratitude to the Haas team and Ayao Komatsu. Driving the car in wet conditions added to the experience, and he joked, “Rainy day, lucky day.”

The former F1 driver had to reacclimate to handling a Formula 1 car. He admitted he felt a bit rusty at first, but quickly regained confidence. He even practiced a standing start, the first since his last one in Bahrain 2020, describing the session as a truly unique opportunity.

Romain Grosjean originally joined Haas when the team made its F1 debut. He recalled seeing familiar faces from Australia 2016 and expressed excitement at trying the new generation of cars. The experience was emotional, and he admitted it brought him to tears. Keeping his visor down, he noted that during the in-lap he received applause from everyone—Ferrari, Red Bull, Pirelli, and Haas personnel alike. He reflected that while he expected something similar in Abu Dhabi 2020, this moment was even more special.