Wolff can expect phone call from ‘very keen’ Grosjean over F1 test offer

Romain Grosjean says he is “very keen” to take up Mercedes’ offer of a Formula 1 test drive with one of its championship-winning cars.

Last year Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said the German manufacturer would be willing to give Grosjean a private F1 test as a farewell gesture from the championship, after he was unable to complete the 2020 season following his horrific accident at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Grosjean, who scored 10 podiums across his 10-year stint in F1, has secured a drive with Dale Coyne Racing to make his racing return in the 2021 IndyCar series.

Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon in which he announced his IndyCar switch, Grosjean confirmed he will call Wolff to discuss the opportunity further, but not until he has got his new racing programme underway.

“I’m still very keen on jumping in the Mercedes F1 car for sure,” said Grosjean.

“It’s an offer that you cannot refuse, just for me to have an understanding of the taste of that car and how it was working. So yes, definitely [interested].

“At the minute I think they’re absolutely flat out in building the new car for the new season and understanding when it’s going to start and how it’s gonna go.

“I won’t phone Toto right now, but he can expect to get a phone call eventually, me asking to have a go at it. It could be absolutely beautiful.

“But also right now, I’m going to the US in 15 days and I’m going to spend some time there, and learn about IndyCar.

“So I just want to get the full IndyCar programme going before looking at other things.”

The 34-year-old Frenchman, who was replaced amid a complete driver line-up overhaul at Haas for 2021, admitted there have been no concrete talks with Mercedes about a test drive as yet.

“There hasn’t really been any firm communication,” Grosjean explained.

“I have spoken with someone there and they say right now we are very busy with building the new cars and so on. Which I know – I’ve been Formula 1 long enough to understand that this time of the year the factories are running flat-out as much as you can with COVID, on getting the cars ready.

“So, I think it’s just not a good time to chase that. But I will give a phone call to Toto at one point and see what can be done.

“The offer really touched me in a good way. I was surprised that it was such a natural way of going for it. And obviously I would love to do it.”