Mercedes' Grosjean test offer 'not a PR stunt' - Wolff

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed his offer to allow Romain Grosjean a final Formula 1 outing in a Mercedes is genuine and not simply a PR stunt.

Grosjean, who was injured in a fiery crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix, had hoped to return to the grid for the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi and end his 181-race F1 career by passing the chequered flag one last time.

The extent of the burns he suffered on his hands, however, has meant this will not be possible and Haas confirmed on Sunday that reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi will remain in the seat for a second consecutive weekend.

Ahead of the Sakhir Grand Prix, Wolff revealed he would be open to providing Grosjean with the opportunity to test a Mercedes, and once it became clear the Frenchman would not be back, he reiterated his offer is a genuine one.

"First of all it is not some kind of PR stunt, jumping on the accident bandwagon," said the Mercedes boss on Sky Sports F1. "I haven't texted with Romain yet because I think he has a thousand messages every day.

"What I heard is that he did not want to finish his Formula 1 career with an accident.

"What I said is that if he doesn't have a drive in Formula 1, and if none of his previous teams, Renault or Haas, would give him a drive, then he could try our machine at a circuit we decide, and maybe he is keen for a Mercedes."

With strict regulations surrounding testing, it is doubtful Grosjean will be permitted to complete a test in current machinery.

It is most likely he would drive a two-year-old car as restrictions do not apply to the running of 'dated' technology.

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