Grosjean rates Haas car ‘one of the best’

It may be Haas' first season in Formula 1 and yet the American team has managed to produce "probably one of the best" cars Romain Grosjean has ever driven.

Haas made their F1 debut last time out in Melbourne with Grosjean racing from 19th on the grid to sixth at the chequered flag.

Grosjean concedes it was not only down to a lot of hard work from the team but also the fact that in the VF-16 Haas have "one of the best" cars he has ever raced.

"It was a great debut, better than what we were expecting. It’s been one of those races that I will probably always remember, when I’m getting older and I tell the kids of my kids my stories," he said.

"But I think it was good for everyone. It was good for Formula One. It was good for the team. I think a brand new team coming and showing that it’s possible to score points at the first venue, it was a very good thing.

"And for all my guys and everyone that has been working so hard in the last two months, it was just a good morale boost and a confirmation that the car we are driving is probably one of the best I’ve ever driven."

And although the Frenchman admits it won't be easy to put in a repeat performance this weekend in Bahrain, he reckons there is "big" potential in the new Haas team.

"I think there is a lot we need to learn, there are a lot of things we could do better," he added.

"We didn’t have any practice in Australia because of the rain and then the crash in the pit lane in FP3, so you know we put the car on track with barely any set-up work and guess where we should be, so I’m sure that whenever we get more running, more time in the car, there is more potential to be coming.

"I’m not saying we’re going to be in the top five here this weekend, I’m just saying that it’s the beginning for the team. But generally I think we will have up and downs, but the potential is big."