Romain Grosjean, Renault, Interlagos, 2011 - Photo © Renault/LAT
According to sources connected to the Italiaracing website, GP2 champion Romain Grosjean has signed for Lotus Renault for 2012, replacing Vitaly Petrov.
It is believed that the Frenchman impressed the team in the Friday practice sessions in which he recently participated in Abu Dhabi and Brazil, and has matured since his F1 debut over the latter half of the 2009 season.
This year Grosjean has won the F1 feeder series GP2, and was recently hopeful about his chances of getting the seat at Renault: “I think I’m still on the list. I’m hoping for sure to get the seat.
“I dream about F1 and I really would like to come back, and I think especially with Kimi it could be something quite special for my career and for my experience.”
Such a move would please French sponsors Renault and Total, and Grosjean would become the second French driver on the grid next year, alongside rookie Charles Pic at Marussia.
Interestingly, it is thought that Vitaly Petrov – the man who Grosjean would replace in such a deal – is in with a chance of getting the drive at Marussia, alongside Pic.
Such a move seems logical, given that Virgin Racing are being renamed Marussia after the Russian sportscar company for next season, and Petrov is a Russian driver. He started this season well, with an impressive 3rd place at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, but, along with that of the Renault car, his form has gone downhill since.
Petrov’s relationship with the Renault team, also has appeared strained recently, after an ill-advised outburst criticising the team. ”Read my interviews, I don’t criticise a team that lost many times. How much have we lost on pitstops? How much have we lost on tactics? Due to that kind of thing we lost [places in], I can say, about ten races, if not more. Unfortunately, I couldn’t say in an interview that we lost due to poor pitstops once again, or something. I still can’t speak about it, but on the same side I also can’t remain silent, I’ve had enough of it, I can’t keep everything inside,” he said on Rossiya 2.
However, there is a sticking point to a possible move to Marussia, as they have already announced that Timo Glock will be driving his third season with the team in 2012, as confirmed on the FIA’s 2012 F1 entry list.
I hope this isn’t true. Should stick with petrov!
I always thought Grosjean deserved a better chance in F1. However, I wonder what will happen with Bruno.
I agree Mario, he was always given an F1 baptism of fire when he was thrown into that Renault in 09. His GP2 championship win has more than shown he deserves another shot.
As for Bruno, I’m a massive fan of his so I hope he ends up on the grid next year. I’m not sure that he will though – Williams/Caterham are probably his only options, otherwise another season as test driver may be on the cards.
He deserves a proper go, he’s talented and it would be a shame for formula one to lose him. Though I am sceptical about the Petrov/Glock thing, I doubt Marussia will drop Glock.
I agree Enigma, I am very sceptical about it as well. I think it might be a case of people just putting two and two together in the Russian connection. Marussia would be daft to drop Glock in my opinion.