Romain Grosjean has hailed Haas’ attitude toward racing and does think the team could one day fight at the front of the Formula 1 grid.
The Frenchman has been with the American squad since the start in 2016, memorably scoring top six finishes in their first two races that year, and has helped them rise to a fifth place finish in this year’s Constructors’ Championship.
Looking back on those early days, however, he recalled the utter madness at the first race.
“We didn’t get a lot of laps in pre-season testing so we had barely any info on the car going into Melbourne and then it rained on Friday, so no laps. We didn’t even know if the radio worked!” he was quoted by PlanetF1.
“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, he added.
“But then Sunday happened and the race ended, and we were in sixth place. P6. In the points. Unbelievable. Truly amazing.
“When I look back on my career, I’ll think of that day right away. I love that story. I loved that weekend.”
That was the start of his love affair with Haas, a team which has an ethos which Grosjean wishes others would follow.
“Haas is one of the things that make F1 great,” he claimed. “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.”
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Though they are currently stuck in the midfield and some way off the big-three teams, Grosjean is confident that ambition will push the team forward.
“We know, at Haas, how tough the task is in the next few years if we want to be up there with the big dogs,” he explained.
“But I know this: Gene Haas isn’t in F1 to finish in the middle and that’s why I’m so excited about our future.
“I’m excited about this winter, for testing, to see the new car because I believe in us.”