Romain Grosjean is hoping the technical Paul Ricard layout will allow Haas to optimise their performance at the French Grand Prix.
The Swiss-born driver races under the tricolour making this his home race in Formula 1 and is keen for a good result after just missing out on points in P11 last year.
Certainly, he is need of a boost after a difficult season with just two 10th place finishes to his name as the Haas car proves fast but very temperamental.
“I think it’s been an interesting year – not the one we were hoping for at the beginning,” Grosjean said in his race preview.
“We’ve got a very good car. We’ve had some very good races, but we’ve also had some bad luck and a car that’s been very complicated to use sometimes.
“Our performance has been a bit up and down, which is not what we were looking for after last year where we were very consistent.
“We’re working really hard trying to understand that and to get the best from the VF-19.”
Also Read:
- Grosjean: If drivers pushed like qualifying in races we’d be ‘f**ked’
- Haas explains cause of Magnussen’s ‘worst experience ever’ in Canada
- Haas: F1 midfield dictated by tyres not car performance
The main issue for Haas has been adapting to this year’s Pirelli tyres, as they struggle to generate heat in the compounds.
But with Paul Ricard more comparable to Barcelona, where the American team was the fourth best team, Grosjean is hoping for a stronger weekend.
“France will definitely be a circuit where the aerodynamics are more important – more so than Monaco and Montreal – so yes, it will be a good test,” he said.
“Again though, our main focus is getting the whole package working, meaning tyres and so on.
“We just have to keep learning, keep improving and keep getting the relationship with my engineers better and better. It’s only seven races we’ve done together as a new group.
“Obviously, when the tyres are working things are smooth and easy, but when they’re not, things are very complicated.”
