Grosjean, placed in Q3: “I found performance again”

Romain Grosjean (Haas) found his way back to the Top 10 after a difficult Bahrain Grand Prix (16th time). The Frenchman will start from ninth row, two positions ahead of his teammate Kevin Magnussen.

This result is likely to satisfy the 31-year-old pilot who often holds “a feeling behind the wheel that (he) hasn’t had for some time”. “These sensations allowed me to be fully and at ease. I found performance again »he says.

Before qualifying, his day was marked by a fire on the rear axle of his Haas. “We changed the entire rear suspension which had caught fire during free practice 3. It was a pretty phenomenal job done by the team. In fact, the rear brakes remained active during my exit lap and it caught fire. »

Romain Grosjean then committed “a small driving error on the Q3 lap. We intended to go from Q2 to Q3 with the Soft tires. We didn't have the bravery to do it, which was understandable after the free practice (finished in the second half of the table)."

However, this ninth time is not the best solution for the race (start at 8 a.m. French time on Sunday). « It would have been more advantageous to start between 11th and 13th position on the grid (and therefore to stop in Q2). From 11th to 20th position, everyone will take the soft or medium because the ultra soft, no one wants to touch it. It is barely faster than the tender. Besides, I was faster during Q3 on softs compared to Ultra Softs. »

“Plus, the ultra soft only lasts ten rounds, then it’s dead. » Romain Grosjean is therefore not really at an advantage compared to his team since Kevin Magnussen will have the choice in his tire strategy, while the French will start with the ultra soft worn out in Q2.