F1 | Romain Grosjean’s emotional return: Haas VF-23 test at Mugello 1762 days after his accident. Romain Grosjean returned to Formula 1 after 1762 days.

Grosjean returns to F1 after 1762 days: back in the Haas VF-23 at Mugello

After almost five years away from Formula 1, Romain Grosjean finally had the chance to get back behind the wheel of a Grand Prix car. The Frenchman completed a symbolic test at Mugello, driving the 2023 Haas VF-23 during a Testing Previous Cars (TPC) session. The return carried great emotional weight, not only because of the long wait but also because Grosjean wore a special helmet designed by his children. Adding further significance, Ayao Komatsu acted as his race engineer, just as he had during Grosjean’s earlier years in F1.

1762 days since the Bahrain fireball

Exactly 1762 days had passed since November 29, 2020, the day of the horrific Bahrain Grand Prix accident that changed Grosjean’s career. Trapped in flames after his Haas split the barriers on the opening lap, Grosjean survived thanks to the halo device but suffered burns to his hands and legs. The scars remain today, a permanent reminder of both the dangers of Formula 1 and the extraordinary courage it demands of its drivers.

Life after Formula 1

Although his F1 chapter seemed closed after that crash, Grosjean never stepped away from racing. He built a new career in IndyCar, competing for three seasons, before moving on to endurance racing in IMSA with Lamborghini. He also took up a reserve driver role with Prema, staying connected to the single-seater world. Yet, despite his successes, one ambition remained unfulfilled – the chance to say goodbye properly to Formula 1 from the cockpit of a Grand Prix car.

A promise delayed by the pandemic

In the aftermath of his Bahrain crash, Toto Wolff and Mercedes had promised Grosjean a farewell test at Paul Ricard. Everything was prepared, including a seat fitting in the dominant 2019 W10. The plan was even tied to the French Grand Prix weekend, offering a special homecoming moment. However, COVID-19 restrictions and Grosjean’s overseas racing commitments made it impossible to realize. That test never happened, leaving the Frenchman’s dream on hold for years.

A second chance with Haas

Dreams sometimes return in unexpected ways. Although the Mercedes test never materialized, Grosjean’s former team, Haas, gave him the opportunity to make his comeback. Thanks to the VF-23, the same car raced by Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen in 2023, Grosjean was able to climb back into an F1 cockpit. The American team had long hoped to offer him such a chance, but limited resources and costs prevented them from running a proper TPC program until now. The arrival of new sponsors and a technical collaboration with Toyota finally made it possible, with the project also serving to provide Toyota-backed drivers the chance to experience Formula 1 machinery.

An emotional day at Mugello

It was under the rain at Mugello that Grosjean finally returned to the track, completing his first laps in an F1 car since Bahrain 2020. The Frenchman’s comeback was full of symbolism: the helmet painted by his children, the familiar presence of Ayao Komatsu at his side, and the atmosphere of a team with which he had written important pages of its history. Komatsu had not only worked with Grosjean at Haas but also earlier in 2015 at Lotus, making the reunion especially meaningful.

Ferrari and Pirelli also on track

The test attracted high-profile attention. Frédéric Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal, was present at Mugello overseeing a separate Pirelli test dedicated to developing the 2026 Formula 1 tyres. Ferrari ran a modified SF-25 mule car, with Charles Leclerc and Zhou Guanyu alternating driving duties throughout the day. This made Grosjean’s return even more special, taking place on the same track and on the same day as a key development session for the sport’s future.

For Grosjean, the 1762-day wait was finally over. His return to Formula 1 may have been symbolic rather than competitive, but it offered closure to a story that had remained unfinished since that fiery night in Bahrain. More importantly, it reminded fans and the paddock alike of the resilience and passion that define racing drivers at the highest level.