Steiner explains why he didn’t drop Grosjean

Michelle Foster
Romain_Grosjean_PA

Romain_Grosjean_PA

Resisting calls to drop Romain Grosjean, Guether Steiner says it wouldn’t have been fair to blame the drivers for Haas’ poor performances.

Haas had a poor 2019 season with the team’s VF-19 unable to get the most out of the Pirelli tyres.

This had the team chasing its tail with upgrades before eventually returning to their Australian GP spec and starting over.

The team’s troubles weren’t helped by Grosjean’s form.

The Frenchman bagged just eight points all season, and there were calls for Haas to drop him after contact with team-mate Kevin Magnussen on the first lap of the British GP ended both their races.

According to the rumour mill, Haas were considering axing the Frenchman and putting Esteban Ocon in the car.

Haas though, not only stuck with the driver through to the end of the season but have also retained both Grosjean and Magnussen for 2020.

Steiner explained his reasoning to GP Racing.

GPBlog quotes him as having told the publication: “Changing a driver or drivers is also like giving them some blame as well, which I think isn’t fair.

“The performance of the car is nothing to do with them.

“Sometimes change is good because you start a new dynamic, but you can start something new and then get lost in that.

“(And I’ve got) more important things to do. I cannot spend time with a new driver, I’ve got my hands full already.”

With just eight points to his name, 2019 was Grosjean’s worst season in Formula 1 as far as points were concerned.

The Frenchman, however, reckons his 2018 troubles when he came close to incurring a ban for penalty points was his most difficult season to date.

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