Romain Grosjean: 'Formula 1 is not a sport, it is a show'

Haas

Romain Grosjean: 'Formula 1 is not a sport, it is a show'

The Frenchman is frustrated with the lack of competition in the discipline.

Matthew Bannister

Sunday 23 February 2020 12:30 Updated: 12:35

Haas driver Romain Grosjean has claimed that Formula 1 is 'not fair' and added that he is not even sure if F1 is a sport at all.

The outspoken Frenchman has spent 11 years in the discipline but despite a series of podium finishes he is yet to achieve his first win.

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And he thinks that he is taking part in entertainment, rather than competing in a sport.

Speaking to the media in Barcelona during pre-season testing, he said: “We call Formula 1 a sport, is it a sport?

"I am not so sure. It's a show, but a sport is supposed to be fair and Formula 1 is not fair.

"It's very physical to drive a Formula 1 car, it's hard, it's demanding, it's a lot of effort from everyone, but it's like asking Roger Federer to go with a ping-pong racket to Roland Garros. He won't have a chance.

"And would you call tennis a sport if they were not all coming with the same rackets, or if the court was wider on one side than it would be on the other side?"

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Grosjean used Daniel Ricciardo, a driver who was consistently achieving podiums and even victories while at Red Bull, but since his move to Renault has barely threatened the front of the grid, as a prime example.

He added: “I mean, look at Daniel Ricciardo. If you only take his time at Renault, he hasn't even scored a podium.

“But he's been winning races [with Red Bull], he's a great driver, and he's been on the podiums. It all depends what you've got between your hands."

Grosjean, at the age of 33, also appears to be coming to terms with the fact that he might end his F1 career without ever collecting a chequered flag.

"Yeah, [it] could well happen that I won't win a Grand Prix. I will do my best to get some opportunities in the future, there's obviously a lot of drivers out of contract at the end of the year, there could be drivers also retiring."