Grosjean enjoys first simulator run for Haas F1 Team

  • Published on 10 Feb 2016 08:41
  • comments 1
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Romain Grosjean says he enjoyed his first run at the wheel of Haas' 2016 car -- in the virtual world. The Frenchman told the sports daily L'Equipe that, two weeks before the real version gets up and running, he drove the new American team's first car in the simulator.

"The feeling was quite good, even if, in the beginning, it was necessary to solve lots of small technical problems. But once the grip improved, it was possible to drive well," Grosjean said, revealing that the track he drove was Barcelona, where Haas' machine will also get its real-world rollout in two weeks.

He cautioned that relying too heavily on the simulator would be a mistake, "but I think the foundations of the car appear healthy". Grosjean said he also crossed paths at the factory with new teammate Esteban Gutierrez, who was having a fitting for his 2016 radio earpiece.

"Esteban was, as usual, smiling and cheerful," he said. "We both want to work well together to help the team. He will also go in the simulator and confirm - or not - my first feelings about the car," added Grosjean. "We still have a lot to do, including the fitting of the seats. I believe it will not be until the first Barcelona test when I see the car for the first time in real life." (GMM)

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • khasmir

    Posts: 893

    Not convinced simulators are very useful for the development of the car. It's hard enough to have a good correlation between the wind tunnel and the track where you work with a physical model. Simulators are a mathematical model created by humans to try and simulate real world conditions but there are so many unknown variables. They are more useful to learn the track and practice very specific situations.
    I guess CFD is somewhere in the middle between the wind tunnel and a simulator?

    • + 0
    • Feb 10 2016 - 18:05

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country FR
  • Date of b. Apr 17 1986 (37)
  • Place of b. Geneve, FR
  • Weight 71 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile
show sidebar