IndyCar switch not an option as Romain Grosjean reveals ovals "scare me"

Romain Grosjean

IndyCar switch not an option as Grosjean reveals ovals "scare me"

Grosjean is eyeing options to race outside of Formula 1

Ian Parkes & Sam Hall

Thursday 24 September 2020 14:19 Updated: 18:01

Romain Grosjean has revealed he is considering options to continue racing outside of Formula 1 - but with IndyCar not on the shortlist as ovals "scare" him.

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has repeatedly made clear in recent weeks the team is in no rush to confirm its driver line-up for 2021 given the options available.

With Steiner stating the team is looking "mid-to-long term" with its line-up, and with Grosjean perhaps questioning where he fits into this equation, he is considering all options to keep his racing career alive - except IndyCar.

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"IndyCar is a beautiful championship but I’m not really tempted by ovals, they scare me, so I don’t really want to do ovals," said the Frenchman.

“For America, there’s a few endurance championships, but I think in the future, Hypercar in the Le Mans 24 Hours and the World Endurance Championship would be nice.

“Formula E is definitely an option. There are some good drivers out there, some good teams, and [in] Formula 1, obviously, everyone can do the maths and see where the seats available are."

Just as Haas is in no rush to confirm its drivers, it is similar for Grosjean as to where he will be racing.

"Obviously there aren’t many seats left in Formula 1 and there are many candidates," assessed Grosjean, referring to the likes of Sergio Perez, Nico Hulkenberg and three Ferrari drivers in F2 - Mick Schumacher, Calum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman.

"So I do understand the point of view from Haas and it does make sense they are not in a rush. But I don’t think I’m in a rush either.

“There are options elsewhere as well which could be interesting, but obviously, Formula 1 is Formula 1 and coming from Mugello [the Tuscan GP], driving those cars in Mugello, it’s like ‘Yeah, it’s absolutely unique what I am driving’.

“Formula 1 is still very appealing in that respect so I guess we will take some time.

“We’re still early in the year, still got many races to go, so on my side not too much in a rush and just more thinking about driving the car, doing the best I can and making sure that we can score one or two points before the end of the year.”

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