Romain Grosjean Set to Reignite His F1 Legacy at Mugello in 2025
In a significant moment for motorsport, Romain Grosjean will strap into a Formula 1 car for the first time since his unbelievable escape from a fiery crash during the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix. This long-awaited reunion with racing will take place at the Mugello circuit in Italy, where he will drive a Haas car, the very team he represented for five seasons, on Friday.
The French driver endured a harrowing experience in November 2020 when his Haas car split upon colliding with safety barriers, ultimately igniting in flames. Miraculously, Grosjean survived a 67G impact and spent 27 seconds trapped in the inferno before emerging with just burns to his hands. Although his injuries forced him to miss the final two races of that season, Grosjean quickly transitioned to IndyCar, where he continues to compete in both single-seaters and sportscars across North America.
Grosjean, now 39, has long envisioned a farewell run in an F1 vehicle. This dream is finally being realized as Haas agrees to allow him to test their 2023 model, the VF-23, as part of F1’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) regulations. Reflecting on this moment, Grosjean expressed immense gratitude to team owner Gene Haas and the crew for facilitating his return, stating, “To say I’m excited to get back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car would be an understatement.”
He added, “I can hardly believe it’s been nearly five years, but to return to my old team is a truly special opportunity.” The upcoming test allows Grosjean to don a helmet designed by his children for what was meant to be his final race back in 2020, making the experience even more poignant.
The event also marks a reunion with many former team members, many of whom are now involved in Haas’s TPC and heritage projects. Current Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu will serve as Grosjean’s race engineer, highlighting their enduring collaboration that dates back to their time at Renault/Lotus.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome Romain back into a Formula 1 car after five years, especially in one of our vehicles,” said Komatsu. “Knowing Romain, I expect nothing less than for him to give it his all, and I can’t wait to see how the day unfolds.”
As Grosjean prepares to take the track once again, memories of his astonishing comeback from the 2020 Bahrain incident resonate, reminding fans and rivals alike of his resilience and dedication to the sport.
Catch the excitement of the ongoing 2025 Formula 1 title hunt at the Singapore Grand Prix, coming up on October 3-5, live on Sky Sports F1.