Renault return in F1 2021 would be “a nice story” - Grosjean

Romain Grosjean has refused to rule out a switch to Renault in the future, adding a return to the Enstone-based Formula 1 team would be “a nice story”. 

The Frenchman, who is heading into his fifth successive campaign with American outfit Haas in 2020, is out of contract at the end of the upcoming season which begins next week with the Austrian Grand Prix on July 5. 

Sebastian Vettel’s impending departure from Ferrari sparked the 2021 driver market into life last month with Carlos Sainz swiftly being announced as his replacement on a two-year deal, while McLaren has signed Daniel Ricciardo from midfield rivals Renault. 

A host of drivers including Vettel and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso have been linked with the spare seat at Renault alongside Esteban Ocon for next season. 

Speaking on the ESPN podcast, Grosjean admitted the opening at Renault “could be attractive for the future”. 

“There were a few surprises -- the big one was Sebastian and then there were choices made that I would have probably made different, but I understand and it's been fun to watch,” Grosjean said. 

"Obviously, Carlos going to Ferrari and then there was a good seat at McLaren and that was a nice opportunity for Ricciardo and still one seat at Renault that could be attractive for the future.

"But again, with the cost cap, we are hoping that more teams could be great and I think Racing Point is on a really good path from what we saw in winter testing, they are really competitive and have done great work with Mercedes, so there will be some good teams to look for in the future. 

“The driver market has been interesting, there are a few seats left around, but I think everyone will take a little bit of time to look at it.”

Grosjean was handed his F1 debut by Renault in 2009 as part of a seven-race spell during the second half of the season as replacement for the ousted Nelson Piquet Jr.

He returned to the squad under its Lotus guise on a full-time basis between 2012 and 2015 and achieved 10 podiums in that time, before joining the new Haas F1 project for the following season. 

Asked if a return to Enstone could be an option for next year, Grosjean replied: "It would be a nice story. I spent 10 years at Enstone and they funded most of my career, and obviously the last podium of Enstone is mine!

"I think it would be nice to go back there, but it would also be nice to stay at Haas or to try another team. We haven't even done a race, but we are already talking about next year, which is a bit strange. 

“But also we are getting into mid-June and early July, which is the start of the silly season, so I don't know, I think first we go back racing, see how the car behaves.

"I will try to do my best and see if my level is still where I want it to be and then we will start discussing and chatting and seeing what we can do."