Belgian GP: A More Traditional Circuit for Grosjean

It’s been just one week since Romain Grosjean made his entry into the big leagues with the European Grand Prix in Valencia. The result was quite convincing and everyone is satisfied with his performance, both the team and the driver himself. The next stage in Belgium promises to be significant.

Indeed, Grosjean knows the Spa-Francorchamps circuit and its curves perfectly, having won the GP2 race there last year. The adaptation will therefore be a bit less significant than in Spain, where he was unfamiliar with the track. It is for this reason that he wishes to get somewhat closer to the level of his teammate, Alonso.

Romain, you competed in your first Grand Prix in Valencia. Did you enjoy this first race?

« Yes, it was a very special weekend for me. I enjoyed every second of the race and I thank the whole team for their constant support. Everything was new to me and I had to learn very quickly. But I managed to feel comfortable with the car and confidence came gradually throughout the weekend. Overall, I am satisfied with my performance. I am happy to have finished the race and I was able to accumulate quite a bit of experience. I also greatly appreciated seeing the mechanics applauding me on the pit wall at the finish. Now I need to continue in this way at Spa, work well with my engineers, and keep making progress. »

What did you do in the days following your first Grand Prix?

« After the Grand Prix, I stayed in Valencia for another day to enjoy the city and relax a bit before returning to Geneva. On Tuesday, I went back to work at the bank*, just to keep my feet on the ground! I think it is important for me to continue this work because I enjoy it and this routine has always worked well for me in the past. »

Romain works in a bank in Geneva, it’s a part-time job.

Spa-Francorchamps, is it a circuit you know well?

« Yes, it’s one of my favorite tracks. I know it very well from having won the GP2 long race there last year. Spa is one of the traditional circuits and I can’t wait to drive my F1 through corners like Eau Rouge. After racing on a street circuit, it will be good to be on a more conventional track, which has beautiful curves, and continue getting to know the R29. »

What will be your goal this weekend?

« The team has helped me a lot so far. They haven’t put me under pressure, but I would like to be more competitive at Spa and get closer to Fernando. I know I still have a lot to learn, and I will take things step by step. I will see how the free practice sessions go before setting objectives. We also have to consider the fact that the weather is difficult to predict at Spa. There is a risk of rain, so we must be ready to react to every opportunity that comes our way. »

According to a Renault F1 Team press release