Grosjean: “Do everything possible”

Romain, you will defend the team's colors for the rest of the season. How do you feel about this opportunity?
I am very happy, of course, and I would like to thank Renault F1 Team for giving me this chance. I started to dream of Formula 1 when I was seven or eight years old. I then watched the battles between Cheers and Senna on television. Making my debut in this category in Valencia is truly a dream come true.

You will drive for the only French team on the grid, does that have a special meaning for you?
My goal has always been to become an F1 driver and achieving this goal with a French team is all the more satisfying. Renault has supported me since 2006 and I was only able to continue racing thanks to their help. We have been waiting for a French driver at Renault for a long time, so there must be quite a lot of enthusiasm among enthusiasts. I will do my best to prove that Renault was right to trust me.

As the third driver, you have attended every race this season. Did you find this helpful ?
This was very useful to me because I was able to familiarize myself with all the members of the team and their working method. I have attended all the technical meetings and debriefings over the last six months, and this will certainly help me maximize the opportunity given to me.

You are now the teammate of Fernando Alonso, a double world champion…
Fernando is truly a great champion – surely the best driver in Formula 1? and I am very much looking forward to working with him. We already get along well, I know that I will be able to learn a lot from him and his experience.

You raced in Valencia in the GP2 Series last year. What do you think of this circuit?
It?s a mix between a street circuit and a classic circuit: some places on the route are very narrow and difficult to negotiate while other places are much wider and offer a lot of clearance. It?s not the easiest circuit to make your debut in F1, but I have always liked urban tracks and I really appreciate being in the middle of a city, the atmosphere is very particular.

How did you prepare for your first Grand Prix?
I tried to prepare as normally as possible but focused on training the neck muscles. Compared to GP2, Formula1 is more demanding on this part of the body. I also took a little vacation this summer to be ready for Valencia.

What are your ambitions for this weekend?
I have only driven the R29 during straight line tests, so my first race will be a real learning experience. It is difficult to set goals, my priority will be to familiarize myself with the car and to feel comfortable and confident with her; I will do everything possible for the team.