Romain Grosjean: “A better aero platform than in 2017”

The only Frenchman on the track this Monday in Barcelona, Romain Grosjean set about carrying out the first runs of the VF-18 in conditions becoming more complicated as the day progressed in Catalonia.

Like most of his rivals, the former pilot Renault did not fundamentally seek performance on a track that did not allow the maximum to be made of the single-seaters.

“We didn't really focus on working to find settings for these conditions, because it's rare to find such temperatures, explains Grosjean. The important thing was to do fairly long runs, twelve or thirteen laps, to check that the car had no problems (cooling, etc.). From that side, it was pretty good.

Generally speaking, the feeling is good (compared to the end of 2017). What that means, I don't know. I think we have a good basis for work. »

Romain Grosjean also highlights the new surface of the Barcelona track, which did not make the task easier for the teams this Monday. “What’s a shame is that there was a little humidity, specifies the Frenchman.

The track lost several seconds and it was undrivable. It’s because of the new tarmac, when there is humidity, the oil comes out. It's logic. »

A VF-18 which leaves good hopes

Haas F1 Team spent the winter trying to erase the main faults of the VF-17. Asked about the “all or nothing” side of the previous one car, Romain Grosjean confirms the efforts of the American structure.

“There’s been a lot of work around this. We will also have to focus on the use of tires, which is a key in F1. The aero platform is much better than last year, and I can't wait to ride in better conditions so that we can really see with all types of tires what it gives. »