Romain Grosjean’s outbursts won’t affect Haas F1 2021 choice despite seat threat
Haas F1 boss Guenther Steiner has laughed off suggestions that Romain Grosjean’s heated critique of his car during the Russian Grand Prix makes things easier when it comes to determining a driver line-up for the 2021 F1 season.
The Frenchman has somewhat infamously never shied away from an opportunity to air grievances - be it towards the team or rivals on track - during a race, making him something of a regular on the radio transmission broadcasts during a race.
This was again apparent in Sochi as Grosjean vented his frustrations at the competitiveness - or lack thereof - from the Haas VF-20, which has scored just a single point in team-mate Kevin Magnussen’s hands this season.
The outburst comes at a time when Haas is considering its options for the 2021 F1 season, with Magnussen and Grosjean at risk of being axed amid talk technical collaborators Ferrari will sweeten a deal with the American outfit in order to get either Robert Shwartzman, Mick Schumacher or Callum Ilott into F1.
Even so, Steiner says Grosjean’s opinions aren’t a factor on his immediate future, with the 11-time F1 podium winner - who has competed with Haas since its debut in 2016 - merely reflecting the general struggles the team has faced in 2020 with its lacklustre performance.
“I don’t know, you tell me, you know... “ he joked when asked whether Grosjean’s words make selecting a driver for 2021 easier. “I think he told you guys what he thinks about the car.”
“It’s just sympathetic to you guys so you get it live so I have to do less work, he tries to be nice with me, giving me less work so he broadcasts it directly so I have to do less work,” he continued.
“It’s a tough feeling but I think what happened to Romain was very well broadcasted. He talked to the people so I don’t have to do this when I speak with you guys in the press release, he broadcast very well what he thinks about the car, so good for him.
“With Kevin I mean he at some stage was very close to points, we need to get a little bit more lucky with someone retiring but we cannot count on that, that is not something you cannot control and should never count on.
“But I think the opportunity was missed when Kevin lost quite about of time under the Virtual Safety Car as if he could have kept the distance to Giovinazzi which we had before the Virtual Safety Car I think he would have been safe, still not points as he would have been 11th not 12th.
“It was interesting because at least we are fighting for something, it’s exciting, you’re not just cruising around and trying to get to the end, you’re fighting for every little bit and that is what we need to do until we get better with the car.”
Haas will make use of British F2 standout Ilott during the FP1 session for the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, while Schumacher will capture headlines when he steps into the Alfa Romeo on home soil too.
