Grosjean: Racing in F1 with Haas like playing tennis with a ping pong bat

Romain Grosjean says racing in Formula 1 with Haas is like "playing tennis with a ping pong bat" due to the vast inequities in F1 finance.

Haas punched well above their weight to finish fifth in the constructors' championship in 2018, but have struggled this year and only the beleaguered Williams team are below them in the standings.

Grosjean this week signed a one-year extension to his deal with Haas, but was keen to point out the odd circumstances regarding his spot in the sport.

"I have not won a championship since 2011," he is quoted by France's Auto Hebdo.

"And it's been 2013 since I had a car quick enough for the podium. Sometimes it feels like playing tennis with a ping pong bat."

Grosjean had been linked with a move to Formula E, where former F1 drivers have won all five of the drivers' titles in its short history.

However, he remains happy with his lot in F1, and explained how a chat with his son helped make up his mind.

He explained: "You're not going to win a lot of races… do I want to go on while it's David and Goliath? Would I not be better off in a smaller championship, where we may be less well off but where I can fight for victory? It's important to ask yourself these questions.

"But the answer was: I want to continue in Formula 1, I am very happy here.

"I also had a discussion with my eldest son Sacha who is six years old. He said to me, 'Dad, I have not had the opportunity to see you on a Grand Prix weekend and I want to do it next year.' It weighed in the balance a little bit."

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