Romain Grosjean to drive F1 car for first time after Bahrain GP crash five years ago
Published on Sep 25, 2025 at 7:24 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Sep 25, 2025 at 8:18 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Romain Grosjean suffered one of the scariest crashes in F1 history five years ago.
The French driver was engulfed in flames during the course of the Bahrain GP.
Now, Grosjean is back behind the wheel of an F1 car for the first time in five years.
The occasion will also mark a special reunion between the Frenchman and the Haas F1 team.
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Romain Grosjean is back in an F1 car – with Haas
Romain Grosjean most likely thought that he would never sit behind the wheel of an F1 car again.
The Frenchman has been making his mark by competing in IndyCar in the United States.
For five years, Grosjean has been away from the sport that made him the star he is today.
But it has officially been confirmed that Romain Grosjean is back – at least temporarily.
Moneygram Haas F1 Team made the announcement that the Frenchman will return.
He will be taking part in a Testing of Previous Car (TPC) test in Mugello, Italy.
Reunited for a special reunion ❤️
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) September 25, 2025
Former driver, Romain Grosjean returns to drive our VF-23 this Friday in Mugello at our TPC event. This marks the first time Romain has piloted an F1 car since the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix.#HaasF1 #F1 | @F1 @RGrosjean pic.twitter.com/cROfhZSygM
The glorious Tuscany track, currently home to MotoGP, has hosted F1 once before.
And it will play host to Grosjean’s return to the Haas VF-23 F1 car.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Gene Haas and to Ayao Komatsu for inviting me to participate in the TPC at Mugello,” Grosjean told F1.
“To say I’m excited to get back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car would naturally be an understatement.
“I really can’t believe it’s been almost five years, but to come back and have this outing with my old team is truly something special.”
French driver escapes fearsome fireball in Bahrain
The French driver made news across the world when he suffered his horrendous accident in 2020.
During the opening lap of the Bahrain GP, Grosjean tore through the safety barriers.
His Haas F1 car split in two and was quickly engulfed in an enormous fireball by the side of the track.
Grosjean spent 27 seconds engulfed in the fireball, yet miraculously escaped.
He got out of the wreckage having suffered nothing more than burns on the back of his hands.
Many remarked at the miracle of Grosjean escaping his car relatively unscathed.
The majority of fans and media members alike have praised F1’s Halo devices for saving Grosjean’s life.
It managed to deflect the safety barrier and give Grosjean an avenue of escape.
We cannot wait to see Romain Grosjean back behind the wheel of an F1 car.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
