Romain Grosjean says he doesn’t care after being accused of “very dangerous” defensive moves during the British Grand Prix.
The Frenchman started down the field but soon found himself fifth after being the only driver not to pit under the second safety car, following Daniil Kvyat’s high-speed crash.
Fighting a rearguard action though, he was shown the black and white flag by the stewards after Carlos Sainz had to avoid running into the back of his Haas on the Hangar Straight.
“A lot of attack in the first few laps, during the Safety Car period, and having to go through a very dangerous Romain Grosjean,” the Spaniard said later.
Grosjean moving over on Sainz almost caused an aeroplane crash on the one racetrack we go every year to that used to be an airfield. Yikes. #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/BiOtBwxPe1
— iGP Manager (@iGPManager) August 2, 2020
Then, after Lando Norris had got past much easier at Stowe, it was Daniel Ricciardo criticising his “sketchy” driving after also taking avoiding action this time on the approach to Brooklands.
“I don’t care,” Grosjean said of the criticism. “I’m sorry if I did anything wrong, I haven’t seen the footage. I don’t see much in my mirrors and the closing speed with DRS is big so sometimes it’s hard to judge.
“But again, I always leave more than a car’s width, nobody had to back off from the move and both went through, so…
“Again, if I did anything wrong I am sorry but I also have to defend myself and push my race.”
The stewards though would later issue Romain with a formal warning, saying this about the incident with Ricciardo post-race.
“Moving under braking when another car is approaching has been identified by the drivers as a very dangerous manoeuvre. Grosjean was given a black-and-white flag by the Race Director for moving under braking with Sainz,” their statement read.
Grosjean pulls another late defensive swerve on Ricciardo this time! A shame to see him regress to doing some of the driving he’s been memed for in the past. #BritishGP https://t.co/nFOfRf1kQM pic.twitter.com/GaZOhdlWYq
— iGP Manager (@iGPManager) August 2, 2020
“The stewards reviewed this case with Grosjean and Ricciardo, they also reviewed the video of the incident between them. Grosjean explained that in both cases his moves were before the braking zone, although in the second case it was closer.
“When it was put to the drivers that these were late moves in relation to the approaching car, or “Movement in Reaction” and also potentially dangerous, they agreed on this as a general principle.
“Ricciardo agreed that this situation, while close, was manageable by him as the following driver.
“The Stewards issued a Warning, with the admonition that late movement in reaction to drivers following is also considered potentially dangerous and will be scrutinised by the Stewards.”
Ultimately, Grosjean’s strategy risk didn’t pay off as a slow pit-stop dropped him to the back of the field and only gained one place to finish 16th across the finish line.
