Romain David Jeremie Grosjean (born April 17, 1986) is a French and Swiss former Formula One driver with 10 podium finishes to his name. Perhaps ironically, he may be best known for his last F1 race at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix.
F1 Debut
Grosjean’s Formula One career began in 2008 as a test driver for Renault, which was promoted to a race seat halfway through the following season when he replaced Nelson Piquet Jr. from the 2009 European Grand Prix onward. The Franco-Swiss driver failed to score points and spent 2010 and 2011 racing in other categories, winning the 2011 GP2 title along the way.
Return to F1 with Lotus
Grosjean made a Formula One return in 2012 with the Lotus F1 Team, rebranded from the Renault team he raced for in 2009, replacing Ferrari-Bound Kimi Räikkönen. He raced with Lotus for three seasons, and scored all ten of his F1 podium finishes with the British outfit.
Haas F1 Team
The then-new Haas F1 Team signed Grosjean for the 2016 season to race alongside Esteban Gutiérrez. He remained part of the American team’s lineup until 2020, after which both he and long-time teammate Kevin Magnussen were slated to be replaced by an all-rookie lineup for 2021.
2020 Crash
Grosjean’s final F1 race ended on the first lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix when contact with Daniil Kvyat resulted in a high speed fiery crash into the barrier. With his VF-20 broken in half and engulfed in flames, Grosjean managed to escape the wreckage with minor burns to his hands and ankles. He was unable to compete in the remaining two rounds of the season and was replaced by Pietro Fittipaldi, grandson of double F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi.
Richard Mille
Richard Mille announced a partnership with Romain Grosjean in 2014. The timing coincided with pre-season testing, where Grosjean not only tested the Lotus E22 on track but also a RM 011 Lotus F1 Team-Romain Grosjean in carbon NTPT®. The RM 50-01 Tourbillon Chronograph G-Sensor Lotus F1 Team Romain Grosjean was also announced that year, and was limited to 30 pieces. According to the Richard Mille website, Grosjean also competed in 39 Grand Prix races wearing the same RM 011 Red Quartz TPT®.
References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YMjw2sjXqU
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/grosjean-speaks-on-how-he-escaped-fiery-crash-his-secret-injury-whether-hell.7bW43BaDcEuV1NOhS0BnvZ
https://www.hautetime.com/richard-mille-teams-f1-lotus-driver-romain-grosjean/
https://monochrome-watches.com/romain-grosjeans-richard-mille-rm-011-ntpt-lotus-f1/
https://origin-staging.richardmille.com/friends-and-partners/romain-grosjean