Grosjean spies Spa success to save seat at Haas

Romain Grosjean is heading to next weekend's Belgian Grand Prix all-too aware that it might be the best chance he has of holding on to his seat at Haas for another season.

There's little question that Grosjean wants to stay put.

"It feels like a big family, which is nice to be a part of," Grosjean said of his experience driving for Formula 1's newest team. "It’s been great to be representing Haas Automation in Formula One. It’s a big name in motorsports and a big name in industry."

However the French driver suffered a terrible start to the year, a series of accidents and incidents meaning that he failed to score any points until Austria. It's left his position at the American squad looking precarious, while team mate Kevin Magnussen appears certain to have his contract extended.

Grosjean needs some strong results in the second half of the season following the mandatory summer shutdown. And Spa might be the best chance he has of impressing his bosses.

It's at the iconic circuit that the 32-year-old last stood on the podium, when he finished in third place in 2015.

• Grosjean's fate at Haas to be decided 'after the summer'

“We had a good car in Belgium that year," he recalled. "I had qualified fourth, but started ninth due to a gearbox penalty.

"We had a good strategy and good timing with a safety car, too. I managed to overtake a few cars and get on the podium. Honestly, it was one of those weekends where everything just goes to plan.

“It was great for all the guys, and for myself. We had a perfect weekend on the track. For everyone involved, it was a very good feeling. "I guess it was kind of the same feeling as scoring the first points for Haas.”

He pointed out that he had other reasons for loving Spa. “I won the GP2 title there in 2011 - that was a great year."

It's also the place where he earned himself a one-race ban for causing a first corner crash at La Source in 2012, but the less said about that the better.

"Spa is a very high-speed circuit with a lot of good fun and good memories," Grosjean insisted. "It gives you a good feeling to drive.

“The first lap you go through flat out, you feel sick, like you’re on a rollercoaster, because it goes up and down.

"You’re thinking, will I make that for the race? But, once you’ve done it once, it’s all ok and you just enjoy the G-forces.

“It’s just a great track," Grosjean stressed. "I can’t choose just one part and say it’s my favorite. The whole circuit just comes together nicely.

"There are very high-speed corners and there are a lot of turns, different types, some high speed, some low – just a good variety overall.

"You always see different approaches at Spa. Either you’re fast in sector one and sector three, which are the high-speed sectors, or you’re fast in sector two, which has more of the corners.

"Both work pretty well, so it’s a matter of how you want to approach the race.

"I’ve got to admit that last year from turn five to the backstraight of turn 15, the whole middle part of the circuit has been much faster. We’ve had that feeling from the extra grip and downforce of the new cars."

Grosjean knows that the pressure is on going into Spa, but he's still just as confident that he can deliver for the team as ever.

"If I turn up at a race weekend not thinking that I’m the best, or that I can’t win the race, I’d be better off staying at home with my children.

"I always want to be on the podium. I always want to try to win the race.

"Of course, it depends a lot on the car," he admitted. "But in the end, you can never give up and you always strive to give your best. That’s the mentality you should have."

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