Eleven years later, Grosjean looks back on the 2012 Spa crash: “It was a mistake, but the sanction was much too severe”

From the career of Romain Grosjean en Formula 1, we will remember three things: his ten podiums with Lotus, his abrupt end to his career with his terrible accident in Bahrain in 2020 but also... the pileup of the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix.

For the youngest readers (or the most novice) who have not experienced this episode, here is a short reminder of the facts: at the start of the race, the Frenchman – then a Lotus driver for his first full season in F1 – collapsed Lewis Hamilton inside the first turn. The Briton, trapped between the Lotus, the grass and the wall, was unable to brake properly, pushing Romain Grosjean from the rear. What followed was an impressive pile-up with the Lotus flying away and narrowly missing hitting the head of Fernando Alonso, then leader of the championship.

« People forgot I was just a rookie."

An accident which profoundly marked the world of Formula 1, with terrible consequences for the championship since Fernando Alonso finally finished 2nd at the end of the 2012 season... four points behind Sebastian Vettel, winner in Belgium. This event also marked a turning point in the career of Romain Grosjean, with a reputation as a “first lap weirdo” – a label given by Mark Webber – which stuck with him for a long time.

“People forgot that I was just a rookie, he explains on the official F1 website, eleven years later. In Spain I set the fastest lap and finished 4th, then we go to Monaco, I was very fast, but I hit Michael [Schumacher] at the beginning. Then we go to Canada, where we finish 2nd. Then, in Valencia, I didn't win. Then things got worse because I tried so hard to win instead of sometimes accepting that fourth, fifth, second or third place was enough. I just wanted to win. This is why I think Spa happened. »

After the pile-up at the Belgian Grand Prix, Romain Grosjean was excluded from the following round, in Italy. On his return, the Geneva native failed to make the top six and endured another nightmare moment at Suzuka, sending Mark Webber into a spin.

Grosjean supported by Alonso after the accident

“Spa was a mistake, I accept the sanction, but I think it was much too harsh, says Grosjean. I'm not proud of it, but it's part of the game. I remember sending a message to Fernando: 'Sorry, I'm glad you're okay'. He answered me : 'The sanction is too severe, you will bounce back'. On the other hand, it wasn't nice having Mark on your back. We all make mistakes and he made a few. Yes, it was difficult. »

Long under fire from critics, Romain Grosjean then managed to turn the situation around and regain confidence thanks to a much more convincing 2013 season, with six podiums. The rest of his career was not as successful: leaving Lotus at the end of 2015 after a final podium in... Belgium, the Tricolor was then one of the actors in the birth of the team Haas between 2016 and 2020. Since 2021, the Frenchman has run in IndyCar : he has also joins the Juncos Hollinger Racing team for the 2024 season.

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