Grosjean believes financial factor dictated Haas' strategy

He didn't mention any names but the message got through. And it's pretty clear. Romain Grosjean learned last Thursday that his services at Haas would not be required beyond the 2020 campaign, following a phone call from his team principal Guenther Steiner.  

« It's a bit weird, it's a page turning, confided from Portimão the Frenchman, visibly moved. Is this the moment when I saw myself leaving Formula 1 ? Not really. But current circumstances, the Covid-19 crisis and the financial difficulties that many industries are going through, have decided otherwise. 

I still wanted to do something in F1 and I think I still had my place in terms of speed and experience. The team chose to take a different route and it's completely understandable ». 

Grosjean will not be the only one to have to pack up at the end of the 2020 season because his teammate Kevin Magnussen was also asked to take his backpack. 

« I suspected that one of us was going to go out but I didn't know which one, continued the man with 10 career podiums. Both, I didn't expect. I didn't think the team was looking for so much finance ». 

Asked again if he did not think that the Haas duo had not suffered from mutual weariness between the two parties, Grosjean replied in the negative.

« If you renew (the team), it’s to have a project that makes sense in terms of pure performance, he retorted. The information I have shows that this is not the direction the team is taking. This is what Guenther explained to me on the phone. I told him : 'I thought you were going to keep one of the 2'. He answered me: 'Financially, I can't'. 

I imagine Haas Automation is still running but I think Gene's will (Haas) to invest in the F1 team is less pronounced. This is the only explanation I have because there is no real sponsor on the car so the financing came almost 100% from him. I imagine he didn't want to wear what he was wearing before. Other solutions had to be found ». 

One of the paths explored and taken by Haas indeed leads to Nikita mazepin, currently 6th in the championship Formula 2. Son of businessman Dmitry Mazepin who made his fortune in the chemical industry, the young Russian driver does not yet have a Super License but his performances in the official F1 lobby, as well as the relaxation of the conditions for obtaining the precious sesame will open the doors to the premier category for him.