D-3: Is Grosjean in the west?

Last year, upon returning to Europe, the Frenchman found himself caught up in the team's rookie status. Haas. The benefit that the latter had been able to draw from its two years of preparation, facing opponents absorbed by the infernal rhythm of the seasons which follow one another, had lived. At the end of 2016, the Yankees still burned a lot of energy to remedy recurring brake problems, while also carrying out the necessary development of their 2017 concept. Did they succeed? The question must haunt the mind all the more Grosjean that, in the case of Haas Racing, the new technical situation is one more obstacle to overcome. For the team and the driver, the risk is to lose the few landmarks marked out during the inaugural tour and find themselves completely disoriented.

A brilliant businessman who made his fortune in the manufacture of machine tools, Gene Haas perfectly anticipated the difficulties that awaited him for his first season and there is no reason why it should not be the same. this year again. By placing oneself under the protective wing of Ferrari for the engine part, while Dallara took care of the production of the rolling part, his team had a dream start to the season before diving when the pace of developments became too difficult to follow. However, the fact that the team was able to resurface at the end of the year shows that it has real responsiveness. In Banbury, where it has set up its European base, it has managed to create – and Romain Grosjean is not for nothing – its own identity. This is a strong sign that no one has lost their way, and especially not the French...

Discover the challenges of the 2017 season in the Guide F1 AUTOhebdo, still available in digital version on all platforms and on kiosks.