Grosjean wants to avoid another ‘rough patch’ in F1 2019

Romain Grosjean says he is desperate to carry his momentum into the 2019 Formula 1 season in a bid to avoid another “rough patch” of form. 

The Haas driver endured his worst start to an F1 season last year and failed to score a single point until the ninth round of the campaign in Austria, after a mistake-ridden run had hampered Grosjean’s campaign.

A crash under the Safety Car while running inside the points in Baku and causing a multi-car first lap collision in Spain acted as the most notable incidents, though the Frenchman recovered strongly to record 37 points in the second half of 2018 and help Haas secure a best result of fifth place in the constructors’ championship. 

“I want to keep the momentum I had in the second half of the season - I don’t want to get back to the rough patch I was going through,” Grosjean said. 

"In life, sometimes things are a bit more complicated and then they come back to where you would like them to be. So I’m working on making sure I don’t go through that rough patch again. 

“I hope it’s a clear, good season. It’s what we need after last year.” 

Asked if he had changed anything in his approach heading into the new season, Grosjean replied: “A little bit, a few bits and pieces that I have adapted.

“It’s not like I needed a big change, it was just small details here and there to make sure you’re on the right pace.”

Grosjean may have ‘overdone’ weight gain for 2019

Grosjean also commented on F1’s new weight regulations for the upcoming season, with changes being made in a move to level the playing field between smaller and bigger drivers. 

From 2019, drivers must weight 80kg, with those falling underneath having additional ballast added to the cockpit. 

Speaking about the changes, Grosjean joked: “I may have overdone it! I’ve been 180cm and 69 kilos for like six or seven years, and now with the freedom I might have reached a bit more so I am going back on a diet.

“It was good fun though. It’s much better in terms of health and fitness wise as well, you can see you are getting fitter and stronger and so on, still cannot be a bodybuilder. 

“I’ve put some muscle on and now I just need to shred a little bit by the first race. But I think we are going to be good, the regulation is a step in the right direction. It’s much nicer to live that way.”