Romain Grosjean is celebrating his 40th birthday today.

From Formula 1 to IndyCar, Romain Grosjean celebrates a special anniversary, filled with memorable moments and a successful second career.

Published 17/04/2026 à 19:00

Zoé Ledent-Mouret

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Romain Grosjean is celebrating his 40th birthday today.

© Fabrizio Boldoni / DPPI

Phoenix celebrates its 40th anniversary on April 17th; a look back at its journey Romain Grosjean, one of the most outstanding French drivers of his generation. Trained in carHe quickly made a name for himself by winning the GP2 championship — the precursor to the Formula 2 — in 2011, a direct springboard to the Formula 1After a discreet first stint in 2009, Grosjean returned to F1 in 2012 with Lotus F1 Team, where he achieved several podium finishes and established himself as a fast but sometimes inconsistent driver.

His speed is undeniable: he reached the podium ten times between 2012 and 2015, even coming close to victory on a few occasions. His adventure then continued at HaasHe became a key player for the team upon its arrival in F1 in 2016. He played a pivotal role in the team's promising start, scoring its first-ever points in its very first race. But it was his spectacular crash at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix that truly captured the public imagination. Caught in a violent impact followed by a fire, the Frenchman miraculously escaped the flames, a moment that became a symbol of the progress made in F1 safety.

After this episode, Grosjean turned the page on Formula 1 and bounced back in IndyCarHe began a successful second career there, with six podium finishes—though never a victory—and a remarkable ability to adapt to American circuits. The Frenchman currently drives for Dale Coyne Racing, the team he started with in 2021, alongside rookie Dennis Hauger. He has also participated in a few races in IMSA with Lamborghini and Iron Lynx between 2023 and 2025, and was part of the Myers Riley Motorsports crew for the 2026 24 Hours of Daytona. At 40 years old, Romain Grosjean embodies today a unique trajectory: that of a driver who has reached the top, marked by hardship, but still driven by the passion for racing.

ALSO READ > Barber — Qualifying: Álex Palou on pole, Romain Grosjean sixth

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3 Comment (s)

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Jean Pierre Hamonet

17/04/2026 at 09:18 a.m.

April 17th, Riccardo Patrese, Enzo Deligny, Nicki Thiim, Laurent Pellier, and me, Jean-Pierre Hamonet, 75 years old on April 17th. 50 years of reading Autohebdo. Happy birthday to all!

C

Cyprien Juilhard

17/04/2026 at 11:16 a.m.

Happy birthday from the entire AUTOhebdo team and thank you for your loyalty Mr. Hanonet!

H

Hilton Leon

17/04/2026 at 07:40 a.m.

Does he have his Rolex?

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