Grosjean to get Mercedes F1 run

Romain Grosjean will return to Formula 1 machinery when he tests Mercedes’ 2019 title winner at Paul Ricard in June, seven months on from his fiery accident.

Grosjean made his final F1 start at last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix, when a first-lap accident tore his Haas in half and left him to escape the fire that engulfed his cockpit. He emerged with burns to his hands that ruled him out of the final two races of the season, bringing an early end to his F1 career. He has since moved into Indycar with Dale Coyne Racing.

Grosjean vowed to make a return to F1 machinery when possible, with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff saying at the time that he would be happy to make a test happen. It was announced last week that Wolff had kept his promise to Grosjean, who will drive the Mercedes W10 in a demonstration run at the French Grand Prix before completing a full day of testing on 29 June.

“I am so excited to jump back in an F1 car,” said Grosjean, who completed his seat fitting at Mercedes’ Brackley base back in March using reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne’s race suit. “It will be a special opportunity for me, and to drive a world championship-winning Mercedes will be a unique experience.

“The first I heard about the chance to drive a Mercedes was in my hospital bed in Bahrain, when Toto was speaking to the media and made the invitation. Reading that news cheered me up a lot!”

“It was clear after his massive accident that this would be the end of his Formula 1 career, and I feel that can’t be the end,” said Wolff. “He made a joke and said he would like to drive the Mercedes, and then we said, ‘OK, drive the Mercedes!’”