Grosjean gets ovation after rainy, joyful return to F1 at Mugello

Under a drizzle-soaked sky at Mugello on Friday, Romain Grosjean climbed back into the cockpit of an F1 car for the first time since his fiery, career-altering crash in Bahrain five years ago.

The former Haas F1 driver took the wheel of the team’s 2023 VF-23 car for an emotional test that blended nostalgia, triumph, and a heartfelt ovation that left the 39-year-old in tears.

The day, drenched in rain and sentiment, marked a poignant chapter for the Frenchman who once called Haas home from 2016 to 2020.

A Wet Wedding of Past and Present

The Mugello circuit, a picturesque gem nestled in Tuscany, played host to Grosjean’s long-awaited F1 reunion alongside Pirelli’s development running.

Sharing the track with F1 TV pundit and ex-IndyCar racer James Hinchcliffe, who was sampling F1 machinery for a broadcast feature, Grosjean faced a soggy challenge but couldn’t contain his joy.

“It was a wet day, but as we say, it was a rainy wedding, a rainy happy wedding,” he beamed, quoted by Motorsport.com. “So it was a rainy day, happy day, fantastic.”

The rain certainly didn’t dampen his spirit – or his skills. After a moment of rustiness, the muscle memory kicked in.

“Just felt a bit rusty at first, and then everything came back,” Grosjean said. “I even got to do a standing start, and guess what, my last standing start was Bahrain 2020. So this time it turned out way better.”

The quip was a nod to the harrowing 2020 crash that ended his F1 tenure, making this moment of redemption all the sweeter.

An Ovation That Echoed Through Time

Surrounded by familiar faces, including team principal Ayao Komatsu – who joined Haas with Grosjean in 2016 as his race engineer – and heritage chief engineer Dominic Haines, Grosjean felt the weight of the moment.

The test wasn’t just about lapping the VF-23; it was a homecoming to a team that shaped his F1 journey.

“Very grateful, very unique opportunity getting to see some of the people that were in Australia 2016 and get to drive the new generation of cars,” he reflected.

“It was fantastic and, again, I'm very, very grateful. There's just no other words.”

The day’s emotional crescendo came during Grosjean’s final in-lap, when the pitlane erupted in applause. Crews from Haas, Ferrari, Red Bull, and Pirelli lined up to honor him, delivering the farewell he was denied in 2020 due to his crash.

“They made me cry at the end of the day!” Grosjean admitted.

“I kept my visor down, but for my last in-lap, everyone from Ferrari, Red Bull, Pirelli and of course Haas F1 team was here, clapping and giving me like an ovation.

“That's something I was expecting in Abu Dhabi 2020 [for his planned F1 farewell], but I think it was even better today.”

Read also:

• Back in the cockpit: Grosjean reunites with Haas at Mugello

As the rain fell and memories flooded back, Grosjean’s Mugello test was more than a mere F1 outing – it was a celebration of resilience and camaraderie.

From the roar of the VF-23 to the applause that echoed through the pitlane, the day was a testament to his enduring bond with Haas and the sport he loves.

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