Grosjean endures ‘frustrating race’ despite Haas double points

Romain Grosjean says being stuck behind Renault’s Carlos Sainz for the majority of the Hungarian Grand Prix denied him a chance to challenge for a stronger result but was content to see Haas take a double points.

Following the frantic opening laps, Grosjean found himself chasing Sainz and despite feeling almost ‘one second faster’ he was unable to find a route past the Spaniard given the difficulty in overtaking on track at the Hungaroring.

It meant Grosjean was restrained to the final points place in 10^th while Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen was able to manage his own race in seventh place.

The result marks the US team’s second double points finish of the season while trimming the deficit to Renault sitting in fourth in the Formula 1 world constructors’ championship down to 16 points.

“Both of us in the top-10 is really good,” Grosjean said. “The race was frustrating. We need to understand how to get the tyres better in these circumstances. I spent 50 laps behind Sainz, being half-a-second to one second faster.

“As soon as you get close to the car in front of you, it just goes and there’s nothing you can do. That was a bit of a shame but, overall, I think we really did a great job.

“We jumped Hulkenberg and Hartley, showing that we had an amazing pace. Generally, I think we had a great pace, so it’s good to have two cars in the top-10. We’ve had a really good weekend. The race pace was so much better than P10.”

Magnussen has echoed his teammate’s sentiments as he closed to seven points off Nico Hulkenberg who leads the ‘best of the rest’ in the F1 drivers’ standings behind the top three teams.

“I was quite happy today,” Magnussen said. “Had a good first lap, gained some positions, and took it home from there.

“Not a very eventful race, except for the first lap, but that’s fine for us. We scored a double-points finish for the team and that’s a good way to go on holiday.”