Romain Grosjean

Was drafted into F1 with not an ounce of testing and replaced Nelson Piquet Jr in the middle of 2009 when he was possibly on route to becoming the GP2 Champion that season, which went to Nico Hulkenburg.

In his 7 races in F1 he failed to impress and the no in-season testing rule didn't help his course. Plus having Fernando Alonso as his teammate couldn't have helped either.

In 2010 Grosjean went to do Auto GP, before returning back to GP2 on July 20th for a few guess appearances for DAM'S. But in 2011 Grosjean was given a full-time drive by DAM'S for the 2011 GP2 series and went on to become the 2011 GP2 Champion.

My question is will Grosjean get a drive for 2012? Plus how far can this guy go if he gets into F1?

 

[RasputinLives]

Ok. He got involved ina racing incident at the start again but Grosjean looked on the pace and in front of his team-mate all weekend before that and its encouraged me to do something I never do on Clip The Apex I'm going to make a statement of prediction I'm even going to change the font and put it seperate so you can all quote it back at me and laugh when it doesn't happen.

Romain Grosjean will win a Grand Prix in 2012

There you go. I've said it now.

 

[Josh]

I agree, and I will eat my non-existent hat if he fails to win a Grand Prix.

 

[teabagyokel]

Bookmarked RasputinLives. Just for reference.

 

[Il_leone]

RasputinLives

I am convinced a bit like Vettel once he stops having the accidents and mistakes and races cleanly he will win races and become a future world champion

My only concern is what is the team set up at Lotus Renault ..Are they actually looking to Kimi Raikkonen to be the team leader like Kubica was and Heidfeld was not or is it equal status.

Grosjean outpaced Raikkonen all weekend although Kimi's steering problem did not help but he was on for a strong race if he did crash

Romain certainly 100 times a better driver than his disastrous stint in 2009

 

[Olivier]

I haven't made up my mind about Grosjean this season. There have been times of sheer brilliance and some of blundering. Particularly Monaco he was all over the place.​

 

[RasputinLives]

I haven't made up my mind about Grosjean this season. There have been times of sheer brilliance and some of blundering. Particularly Monaco he was all over the place.​

Not quite sure how you can say he was all over the place in Moanco - I think I'm correct in saying he out paced his team-mate in every session, was in the top ten in every session and threaterned for pole. Yes he got involved in the first corner incident and didn't get past turn one but saying he was all over the place is a bti odd

 

[Olivier]

Maybe I was a bit brash. His 1st lap incident doesn't add up for all over the place, maybe brain fade?. I don't think Kimi was all that motivated in Monaco so I am going to wait for Canada and see where does he stand.

 

[Josh]

In my opinion I don't think you can blame Grosjean, or anyone really, for that incident. Monaco is a tight track and having to make an evasive maneuver like Grosjean had to do with Alonso it's easy to hit someone as they demonstrated so perfectly.

 

[Olivier]

Lotus team themselves called it a "misjudgment of launch procedure" and they suggested Grosjean "still has a bit to learn". That's my position exactly.

 

[no-FIAt-please]

Grosjean is now a married man, he has wed a reporter for TF1 (French F1). Apparantly Eric Boullier was at the ceremony... interesting that they socialise on more than a professional level. Could be important if one of the drivers has to leave the team (although I'm sure Kimi's wages would probably be the main decider there).

 

[teabagyokel]

no-FIAt-please - if this season continues in the way it has been going for the last couple of races, who's to say Romain might not be the better long-term prospect for Lotus?

 

[no-FIAt-please]

I wasn't suggesting either driver deserved to leave the team. Simply pointing out that Grosjean and Boullier seem to be friends as well colleagues, that isn't something that is seen a whole lot in F1 nowadays...

 

[Incubus]

I don't know about that actually... I think they (in the media) are always trying to portray the F1 circuits, drivers and team bosses and staff as an environment where rivalries and intensity are predominent but sometimes you get the feeling it's all a bit exaggerated to make a good story. It wouldn't surprise to know the F1 circus in general is actually a bit more chummy than they say

 

[Il_leone]

Bouillier has done well to rescue his career after it was ruined and screwed by Flavio who only saw Grosjean as another money earning pawn to replace Piquet Jnr

Bouillier was right not give Grosjean a seat in 2010 after a difficult time and needed to sharpen his race craft. Whilst he has been involved in a few accidents...overall he's generally impressed and lived to his billing as a potential future world champion

Kimi is on a 2 year contract with Lotus so I don;t think they will change it despite Grosjean certainly not overrawed by him

 

[RasputinLives]

So 5 place pen for Grosjean in Germany then.

I hope he's not getting a touch of the Alesi's - he always seems to be looking good ona weekend and then something goes wrong. You have to wonder where he might have been at Silverstone had he not had the bash with Di Resta.

 

[Il_leone]

Have to say Romain does not need to avoid the wheel banging incidents that is costing him because he is clearly troubling Kimi

 

[RasputinLives]

Ok. This one is not worth a thread on its own so I'll bang it out here.

I'm thinking that despite Rosberg taking his first win this season he'd now rank behind Grosjean in the majority of people's 'best driver on the grid' and 'potential world champion list'. i.e Grosjean's stock is now higher than Rosbergs.

Thoughts?

 

[Slyboogy]

We haven't seen Grosjean in another car or team. He's been groomed with this team.

He's driving excellently no doubt, and yes he's probably ahead in many peoples minds ahead of Rosberg.

But like I said, Rosbergs a known quantity, Grosjean isn't, it certainly helps coming into a fast car with already experience with Pirelli tyres. Let's also remember that his team-mate has been out of the sport for 2 years too.

It will be good for the sport if he continues the way he goes, as France really do need a top French driver.

 

[RasputinLives]

I think the fact that Rosberg is a known quantity might be why his stock has fallen. He's known to not produce it all the time and go backwards down the grid. I do understand what you mean by the fact Grosjean has only be with one team though and it has only been 11 races - however I will say I think Kimi has been driving a lot better than people give him credit for this year, other than Bahrain where he should have had the win I haven't seen much sign of him lacking his old form.

Maybe its too early to put him up there but I do think you have to put Romain in the top 10 drivers on the grid this year. To think he was 66-1 to even get a podium before the season started!

 

[Galahad]

Romain has qualified well but his races haven't been as impressive - unforced errors and mostly slower than Kimi. So while neither would be my first choice, if I had to choose I'd go for Nico at this point.