One of the more intriguing seats in the F1 Silly Season has been announced for the next Formula One season as the new American Haas team has announced which one of the two seats which will be occupied next season. Romain Grosjean of France, currently racing for Lotus F1 was confirmed via livestream on Tuesday morning. The news that Haas confirm Grosjean means that the Frenchman will be the first driver to change teams in what has so far been a dull Silly Season.
2011 GP2 champion Grosjean, 29, has had a relatively successful stint with Lotus across four seasons, achieving ten podiums with the team, most recently at the 2015 Belgian Grand Prix, despite driving what is arguably inferior machinery to the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and Williams. He had a short stint with the team in 2009 as well when it was known as Renault, but had a difficult introduction into F1. After achieving a reputation for being a ‘First Lap Nutcase’ early in his career, he has transformed into arguably one of the best drivers on the grid, and in the second half of 2013, it was he and not his World Champion team mate Kimi Räikkönen who often challenged Sebastian Vettel for race wins. In our mid-season review this year, Grosjean was placed in third.
This leaves much speculation as to who will partner Grosjean, with Ferrari reserves Esteban Gutierrez and Jean-Eric Vergne both linked with a move to the new team, as well as the likes of McLaren reserve driver Kevin Magnussen and American Alexander Rossi, who currently races part-time for the Manor Marussia team.
Haas appears to be on track to make their debut for the beginning of the 2016 season as expected, with power units being supplied by Ferrari (what will be the 2016 model as the factory team will use) and the chassis being developed by Dallara who designs the current-generation IndyCar as well as many other chassis. The team will also have access to the windtunnel at Maranello which is used by Ferrari.
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