Grosjean, a 4th place like a victory: “It’s extraordinary”

Romain Grosjean (Haas) has silenced the criticism surrounding him for too long weeks on the side of Red Bull Ring. In Austria, the French, who achieved his best qualification of the year on Saturday, led an ideal race on Sunday.

The 32-year-old driver started the day with a promotion to fifth thanks to the three-rank penalty imposed on Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari). A gift which was the symbol of a weekend where all the elements came together for the tricolor.

Cautious enough to exit the first rounds without losing too many feathers, Romain Grosjean logically gave in to Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull). Seventh or even sixth place seemed a realistic goal until the leaders' mechanical failures (Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton).

“It’s our 50th Grand Prix and our best finish for the team,” @RGrosjean said after the #AustrianGP. “This weekend was just what we wanted.” @Haas_Automation | @JackandJonesTM pic.twitter.com/NwIZXu2NFx

—Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) July 1, 2018

So, the car marked with the number 8 came back to the foot of the podium in the last loops. A result which contrasts with the nightmarish start to the season of the former GP2 Series champion, who had not scored a single point in eight races!

“It’s extraordinary, we were helped a little by the Mercedes who give up. It feels good to finally score points, he admitted at the microphone of Canal+. I've had so much in my face that I keep my happiness a little to myself. I hope my sons Sacha and Simon are proud of me. I am also happy for the team, who deserve it so much. »

In an event where the endurance of the tires played a key role, Romain Grosjean managed to make only one pit-stop. “We chose a fairly daring strategy by stopping quite early during the VSC, and continuing for 50 laps with the same set of tires. tender. At the end of the race they were not a pretty sight. »

Romain Grosjean delivers the best result in Haas history for his 50th Grand Prix. “It was a perfect weekend, we must continue like this. It's huge, 4th and 5th (with Kevin Magnussen), it is superb. It's been a long time since I finished this high. » More precisely, since the 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix (5th), already on a Haas.

Discover the full report and analysis of the Austrian Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Spielberg, in issue 2172 of AUTOhebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.