Grosjean: F1 needs more teams like Haas

  • Published on 15 Dec 2018 15:47
  • comments 5
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Romain Grosjean believes that Formula 1 needs an influx of teams more like Haas, stating that the American outfit is made up of "crazy dreamers". Haas enjoyed a strong 2018 season, finishing fifth in the constructors' standings.

The impressiveness of the achievement is heightened by the fact that 2018 marked Haas' third season in the sport, having only joined the grid in 2016. Grosjean, who has been with the team since its maiden campaign, says that new teams can learn a lot from Haas.

“Haas is one of the things that make F1 great," he wrote in a piece for The Players' Tribune. "The team is filled with determined goal-setters, out-of-the-box technical thinkers and yes, even crazy dreamers. I’m lucky to be a part of this team. F1 needs more teams like Haas.”

Haas' F1 career began with a bang, as Grosjean crossed the line in sixth place at the 2016 Australian Grand Prix. However, he recalled that the weekend wasn't smooth at all, as a number of obstacles were met along the way.

"Our first Grand Prix in Australia in 2016 was chaotic,” Grosjean reflected. “We didn’t get a lot of laps in pre-season testing so we had barely any info on the car going into Melbourne. Then it rained on Friday, so no laps. We didn’t even know if the radio worked.

“On Saturday, we finally got out of the garage and someone hit us in the pit lane. We had to change the floor of the car and we missed even more time. Then qualifying was a disaster because F1 had implemented that new, ridiculous elimination-style quali that ended up getting removed a few weeks later.

“But then Sunday happened. And the race ended, and we were in sixth place. P6. In the points. Unbelievable. Truly amazing.  Beforehand, we thought we might be lucky to finish the race. Our telemetry failed during the Grand Prix. Our radio failed at times. Our car hadn’t even driven a full race distance leading up to that weekend.”

ENDR

Posts: 43

Are they a "B" team though? Do they unconditionally accept any driver the "A" team gives them? Do they test unproven parts for the "A" team (like Toro Rosso Honda)? Do they let the "A" team cars through without putting up a fight while screwing up everyone else's races?
STR is OBVIOUSLY RB's "B" ... [Read more]

  • 1
  • Dec 15 2018 - 21:42

Replies (5)

Login to reply
  • Let me qualify that, we need more teams that succeed like Haas. Do we need more B teams for the large car manufacturers? No, definitely not.

    • + 0
    • Dec 15 2018 - 20:14
    • ENDR

      Posts: 43

      Are they a "B" team though? Do they unconditionally accept any driver the "A" team gives them? Do they test unproven parts for the "A" team (like Toro Rosso Honda)? Do they let the "A" team cars through without putting up a fight while screwing up everyone else's races?
      STR is OBVIOUSLY RB's "B" team. SAUBER's shaping up to be Ferrari's "B" team, with Giovinazzi as their reserve driver, Leclerc behind the wheel this season and Gio and Kimi next year.
      Haas are just a client team, just like Williams or FI to Mercedes.

      • + 1
      • Dec 15 2018 - 21:42
    • I would definitely say they are a B-team: they get significant advantages from paying for certain parts from Ferrari, and in return Ferrari get cash and some additional data. Sauber is probably B-teamier at this rate, but Ferrari has been known to have multiple concubines before. This wont be an exception.

      • + 0
      • Dec 16 2018 - 09:01
  • paveu

    Posts: 6

    "we need more teams like Haas". yep, who else would hire Champion of Walls :)

    • + 0
    • Dec 16 2018 - 13:11
  • Kind of a no-brainer if you ask me. B team or not, I would rather watch teams like Haas and Sauber race than Williams and McLaren at this point in the sport.

    • + 0
    • Dec 18 2018 - 23:07

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 France
  • Date of b. Apr 17 1986 (37)
  • Place of b. Geneve, France
  • Weight 71 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile
show sidebar