Grosjean wants 'more gentlemanly' attitude from rivals on opening laps

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Haas' Romain Grosjean says drivers should perhaps display a more "gentlemanly" behavior on opening laps and realise that "there's a long race ahead".

In Sunday's Russian Grand Prix, the Frenchman was on the receiving end of a three-car collision that took place at Turn 4 after the start.

Grosjean took his line into the right-hand corner only to tangle with Antonio Giovinazzi, having not seen the Alfa Romeo which was sandwiched between the Haas and Daniel Ricciardo's Renault.

The Haas was out on the spot while Giovinazzi was able to race on, but Ricciardo's race was later terminated by damage sustained by his car during the first lap clash.

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Grosjean - who in the past has found himself involved in opening lap crashes more often than he cares to remember - believes drivers entangled in the midfield have been too aggressive at the start recently.

"I think it was very avoidable," Grosjean told Motorsport.com. "I left plenty of room on the right-hand side. Three in that corner was never going to work.

"Whose fault was it? I'll let you judge from the two on the right.

"You break your balls all weekend long to get a good car and work really hard, you're taken off in Turn 4 of a 53-lap race by a very aggressive move, so I'm not very happy.

"The decision? Racing incident, it's lap one of the race, why not? But I felt like the last few first laps have been quite aggressive in general.

"Maybe we should be a bit more gentlemanly between us and think that there's a long race ahead.

"I'm not blaming anyone. I just think it was very avoidable and maybe a bit too aggressive from some."

Giovinazzi, who had already suffered a light brush with Ricciardo at Turn 2, said that both Grosjean on his left and the Aussie on his right were oblivious to his presence between them.

"I was like ham in a sandwich," said the young Alfa driver.

"I tried to lift off and avoid contact, but that wasn’t enough, and we touched.

"I think nobody from right or left knew there was another car on the corner. So nothing to do."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.