Mercedes still committed to Grosjean’s farewell F1 test, delay until '22 likely

After his dramatic fireball crash at last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix, Grosjean was ruled out of the final two rounds of the season due to injuries he sustained and thus didn’t get a goodbye race having been dropped by Haas at the end of 2020. 

To give Grosjean some closure, Wolff said that Mercedes would put on a test for the Frenchman to drive Lewis Hamilton’s 2019 championship-winning W10. 

Grosjean was set to drive during the French GP weekend as well as in a private test at the Circuit Paul Ricard at the end of June.

Due to various postponements and alterations to the 2021 F1 calendar, combined with Grosjean’s existing IndyCar commitments, the test didn’t happen. 

Speaking after the Dutch Grand Prix, Wolff confirmed the test will take place at some point.

“He’s definitely going to get that test,” Wolff said. “We have committed to it and it’s going to happen but I have no visibility.”

Mercedes had hoped to run the test in September but the final three IndyCar rounds of the season take place this month.

A Mercedes spokesman revealed that it’s more likely to take place in 2022.

“We haven’t got a date yet. September had been a possibility but isn’t anymore so it may potentially spill into ‘22 but it will definitely happen.”

Grosjean has enjoyed a solid rookie year in IndyCar, scoring his maiden podium at Indianapolis back in May.