Romain Grosjean makes "hardest decision" to miss F1 season finale

Romain Grosjean

Grosjean makes "hardest decision" to miss F1 season finale

French driver is to continue recovery after Bahrain GP crash

Sam Hall

Sunday 6 December 2020 12:17

Romain Grosjean will miss the Formula 1 season finale after Haas confirmed the driver is due to return home to Switzerland to receive further treatment on burns sustained in his fiery Bahrain Grand Prix crash.

Grosjean was sidelined for the Sakhir race but had hoped to return for what was set to be his final outing in the sport next week in Abu Dhabi.

Delivering the news that he will not be able to fulfil this ambition, Grosjean said: “It is with great sadness that I will not be able to do my final race in Abu Dhabi and be with the team there.

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"We’ve tried as much as we could with the doctor to recover and to repair my hand, but the risk of racing is too big for my recovery and my health.

"So, the decision was made that I’m not going to race. It’s one of the hardest decisions of my life, but it’s obviously one of the wisest. I will miss the team, but I will be supporting them as ever.”

Grosjean has been a part of the Haas F1 effort since day one but in October announced he would be leaving the team at the end of the year.

Team principal Guenther Steiner added: “I’m naturally very sorry that Romain will miss what was going to be his final race with Haas F1 Team.

“But we are all in agreement that he has to take the best course of action regarding his treatment and recovery from last Sunday’s incident.

"Romain has shown exceptional bravery and amazing spirit over the last few days. We know how badly he wanted to be able to return to the cockpit of the VF-20 in Abu Dhabi. And we all would have loved him to have been there too.

“Romain believed in our Formula 1 project at the very start, he committed to drive for us before we’d even built a car. There is no doubting the determination and sheer effort he has put into helping us to achieve what we have as a young team in Formula 1.

"We will forever be grateful for that belief and commitment. It is those qualities, his drive and ambition, that I’m sure will aid him on his recovery. On behalf of Gene Haas and myself, together with the whole Haas F1 Team operation, we wish Romain well and a return to full health.”

Haas has confirmed Pietro Fittipaldi, racing in place of the Frenchman this weekend, will continue in Abu Dhabi with the team electing not to promote either of its 2021 drivers, Nikita Mazepin or Mick Schumacher, into a race seat early.