Romain Grosjean Set for Stunning Haas F1 Comeback

Romain Grosjean returns to Formula 1 with Haas on 26 September at Mugello, running a TPC session in the 2023 VF‑23, his first F1 outing since the 2020 Bahrain crash.

The Frenchman raced for Haas from 2016 to 2020, concluding with a fiery 67G Bahrain impact that curtailed his season and denied a proper farewell in Abu Dhabi.

Since leaving F1, Grosjean competes in IndyCar and endurance racing. The run offers his first taste of the current regulations and a reference point against modern ground‑effect machinery.

He will wear a helmet designed by his children, created for his planned 2020 finale but never used on track, adding a personal note to an otherwise functional outing.

Team principal Ayao Komatsu acts as race engineer, rekindling a familiar partnership. Former colleagues Dominic Haines and long‑time race mechanic Ian Staniforth attend, reuniting key figures from Grosjean’s Haas tenure.

Komatsu frames the day as both practical and sentimental. Expect Grosjean to push immediately, offering a baseline for the car and a useful read on operational procedures.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Gene Haas and Ayao Komatsu for inviting me back,” says Grosjean, adding he aims to help VF‑23 trackside development while reconnecting with familiar faces.

Under TPC regulations, Haas can run machinery at least two seasons old, making the 2023 VF‑23 eligible. The focus sits on correlation, reliability checks, and feedback to refine trackside processes.

James Hinchcliffe also turns laps, making his Formula 1 driving debut. His participation forms part of the official broadcast, adding an extra narrative thread to an already noteworthy test.

For Haas, experienced feedback offers context alongside current race drivers. Any correlation gains could serve upcoming events, while the reunion strengthens continuity within a team rebuilding under Komatsu.

The cameo aligns with broader auto racing industry trends, leveraging legacy drivers for targeted test programmes that blend publicity with pragmatic data gathering under controlled conditions.

Grosjean’s multi‑discipline experience in IndyCar and endurance racing should sharpen evaluation, offering cross‑series perspective on tyre behaviour, ride control, and aero stability across Mugello’s fast, loaded corners.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.