Grosjean: the ultimate challenge is mastering the Pirelli tires, even in Monaco!

Romain Grosjean and Monaco is primarily a story of missed opportunities. 7 Grand Prix races and two small points finishes: 8th in 2014 for Lotus… and again 8th in 2017 for Haas. That’s it for the positive! On the negative side, numerous disappointments. A symbol of this is his last Monaco race in 2018, ending with a 15th place in qualifying… and a 15th at the finish. At the time, the American car was never on pace, dooming the Frenchman to an anonymous race at the back of the pack.

More than ever, a matter of temperature

For the main person concerned, there is unfortunately a chance of experiencing a similar weekend to 2018. We’re not going to start off pessimistic, but if we can’t exploit the tires, I don’t see how we could be fast here, emphasizes the Frenchman, who has often been caught out by his tires since the start of the season. The exploitation of Pirelli tires is a general problem for teams on the grid but even more so on the American side!

And for good reason: while he now knows the optimal temperature window, which is narrower than last year, Romain Grosjean still doesn’t know exactly how to reach it! As a result, a difference of ten degrees can mean that the Haas performs… or underperforms!

But even after a complicated start to the season (only one point on the board), the Franco-Swiss remains confident about his team’s momentum: when the tires work, the Haas is a formidable car, the fourth on the grid, almost capable of challenging the Red Bulls.

The most striking example is, of course, the latest Grand Prix in Spain. Equipped with new aerodynamic features, both VF-19 cars made it into Q3 and the top 10, a first for Gene Haas’s team this season. So, will this momentum continue in Monaco? It’s hard to say for Grosjean, who doesn’t want to make any predictions. He simply notes: the car needs to be particularly well-tuned, it must not bottom out or hit the suspension limit. Otherwise, a spin is guaranteed.

« I’ve had years where I had good sensations right from the start, in 2012 and also in 2013. But there are other years where the car doesn’t work: it then becomes an Everest at every turn! »

Q&A Time 🇲🇨 #MonacoGP@RGrosjean‘s on the hunt for more points in Monte ➡️ https://t.co/2Zx3jIXzA3 pic.twitter.com/l0okTMYi1W

— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) 21 mai 2019

Situation calmed with Magnussen?

In this particularly unique Grand Prix, we note the evolution of his relationship with Kevin Magnussen, who pushed him off the track during the post-Safety Car restart in Spain after a daring overtake by the Dane. Regarding this clash, the Frenchman confirmed: a discussion indeed took place with Günther Steiner and his teammate. Without anger: « I stayed calm, I took 5 minutes for myself before going to the interview area at the end. Usually, I’m hot-blooded… maybe I’m getting older » notes Grosjean with a hint of mischief. Adding with a smile: « Next time I’ll shut the door! » Perhaps this weekend between the rails of the Principality?

« It was the first opportunity for both cars to score big points and in the end, nobody was happy in the garage. We lost at least three points. At the end of the year, it could tip the balance! »

Buddy – Every one of the 7 double-points finishes @HaasF1Team have recorded as a constructor in @F1 have been achieved since Romain Grosjean and @KevinMagnussen became teammates in 2017. @RGrosjean #Formula1 #HaasF1 #SpanishGP @CircuitCat_Eng #Grosjean #Magnussen #Haas pic.twitter.com/b4UsWHrbhi

— Mobil 1 The Grid (@Mobil1TheGrid) 14 mai 2019

From our special correspondent in Monaco