Grosjean’s Rise to F1

Romain Grosjean will be a Lotus driver next season, this was officially announced on Friday by the British team. The French driver will race alongside the 2007 world champion Kimi Räikkönen in 2012. Some will say he was chosen thanks to the support of Total, but it’s not just because of the French oil company that Romain Grosjean earned a second chance in F1, it’s thanks to his talent.

This article will cover Romain Grosjean’s rise to Formula 1, from his journey towards F1 to his challenging debut in F1 in 2009 with the Renault F1 team, up to his second chance in 2012.

The beginnings of a future champion

Romain Grosjean was born on April 17, 1986, in Geneva, Switzerland, but he holds dual French-Swiss nationality and chose to race with a French license in F1. He started karting at the age of 14 and participated in international championships for three years before moving to single-seaters in 2003 in the Swiss Formula Lista championship, which he won in his first year.

In 2004, he participated in the Formula Renault 2.0 championship where he secured a victory. The following year, he continued in this category and clinched the title. He followed a similar path in the Formula 3 Euroseries, with a first year of learning in 2006 and the title in 2007.

Grosjean continues to climb the ranks in 2008 by joining the GP2 Series championship with the French team ART Grand Prix, winning the title in the GP2 Asia Series for the first edition of this mini-championship. In the GP2 Series, he finishes fourth in the championship in his first season. He also held the role of test and reserve driver for the Renault F1 team that same year.

2009 – Struggle for the GP2 Title and Debut in F1

In 2009, Grosjean continued in GP2, still with as much success. He was in the running for the title when the Renault F1 team and his management team decided to throw him into the deep end of F1 to replace Nelson Piquet Jr. Grosjean thus made his debut at the wheel of the R29 during the European Grand Prix in Valencia.

Driving an uncompetitive single-seater, Grosjean could do no better than 13th place – in Brazil. He suffers in comparison to his illustrious teammate, none other than Fernando Alonso, a double world champion. Despite good performances considering his modest car, he was not retained by the French team for 2010 – Vitaly Petrov, his teammate who finished as GP2 vice-champion, was preferred.

2010 – FIA GT1, Auto GP and GP2 Titles

Grosjean therefore leaves F1 to bounce back in the FIA GT1 championship within the Team Matech Competition team. He participates in five meetings with the Swiss team, achieving three podiums including two victories.

He then joined the French team DAMS to participate in the Auto GP championship, which he won despite missing the first two meetings of the season. In parallel with Auto GP, he also took part in three GP2 meetings, achieving four points finishes, including two podiums.

2011 – GP2 Asia and GP2 Main titles, a first step towards a return to F1 …

In 2011, Grosjean continued with the DAMS team and competed in both the GP2 Asia and GP2 Series. He won the championship in both series and narrowly missed winning the constructors’ title for DAMS in the GP2 Series. Beyond his title, Grosjean impressed many observers during this GP2 season, executing incredible overtakes on track and winning races in style.

His objective is clear, to return to Formula 1. But when the opportunity to replace Nick Heidfeld arises mid-season, Grosjean’s management – Gravity and more specifically Eric Boullier – decide not to put him in the seat to avoid “burning” him out like in 2009. He patiently waits for his moment and is eventually given a chance to prove or confirm his potential by driving during the free practice sessions at the Abu Dhabi and Brazilian Grand Prix. Each time, Grosjean outpaces his teammate, who is his first adversary.

… the formalization of a seat for 2012

Kimi Räikkönen’s signing with Lotus Renault Grand Prix for 2012 seemed to darken the future of the Frenchman in F1, but he was finally confirmed as a race driver for 2012 by the team, and Grosjean expressed his delight at once again working alongside a world champion.

It is rare to see Formula 1 give a second chance to a driver, and Romain Grosjean is well aware of this. He believes that his 2011 season helped him mature, making him a much more complete driver than in 2009.

The new Lotus driver believes he is lucky to have a teammate of Räikkönen’s caliber because it allows him “to learn a lot” since even though he has already experienced F1 – 7 Grand Prix in 2009, Grosjean will be almost a rookie in 2011 as the cars have changed so much over the course of three years.

The future of Grosjean in F1: 2012 and beyond?

After a title in Auto GP in 2010, two others in 2011 – GP2 Asia and GP2 Main, winning the F1 title in 2012 would be a remarkable hat trick for Grosjean. But one shouldn’t dream too much, there is little chance of seeing the Frenchman succeed Alain Prost, the last French world champion in 1993, given the current F1 field.

Grosjean’s goal in 2012 will more likely be to try to be as competitive as Räikkönen, if not outperform the Finnish driver, to demonstrate his talent to the entire paddock and thus (finally) launch his Formula 1 driving career.