When newbie Formula One outfit Haas F1 announced they had signed Romain Grosjean it was somewhat of a coup for the American outfit.
By the time the formal announcement of the deal was made it may well have been fully expected, but that took nothing away from the size of the deal.
A brand new team entering Formula One for the first time next year secured Romain Grosjean, an experienced driver with at that time, 78 Grand Prix starts and 10 podiums.
Some people in the paddock couldn’t help themselves, just how have they done it? They asked.
Many though it was all down to their close working relationship with Ferrari.
The United States team has strong links with Ferrari, the Italian side will be developing the teams power-unit and gearbox amongst other things, whilst the chassis will be developed by Haas.
This, it is thought, should put Haas in a strong position in comparison to the other recent F1 newbies which has seen both HRT and Caterham fold and Manor Marussia race with a 2014 car all season following their own financial problems.
It was also thought that Grosjean’s move would place him in the best possible position to replace Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari in 2017.
Not a bad thought, but one that according to Grosjean is not part of thinking process.
‘They [Ferrari] are certainly going to get all the data, and all the feedback from the engineers, The best I can do is to do my best and do my job. I didn’t go to Haas to go to Ferrari. That is not the point. Grosjean told motorsport.com.
He continued: ‘I went to Haas because I like the project. I think it can be successful. It is an American team so there is a big market that will be nice for F1.
Do does that mean he has no aspirations to drive for Ferrari?
‘Of course the dream is to go to Ferrari. Ferrari wants good drivers, and if you be the best you can be, then you have a chance.’
Grosjean is not using Haas as a stepping stone
