Grosjean issues update on Mercedes F1 drive

Romain Grosjean has insisted that he is still pushing to completehis Formula 1 test outing with Mercedes. Grosjean was due to exitF1 at the end of the 2020 campaign after announcing his departurefrom Haas, with few opportunities arising elsewhere on the grid forthe following season. At the Bahrain Grand Prix, the third-lastround of the 2020 season, Grosjean suffered a horrific crash thatleft him engulfed in flames for almost half a minute. The Frenchmanescaped from the burning wreck but sustained burns, largely on hishands. It cut short Grosjean's F1 career but Mercedes offered togive Grosjean a test outing in one of its cars, with a seat fittingcompleted at its factory. However, Grosjean's busy post-F1 schedulewhich includes a full-time drive in the IndyCar Series hasprevented the test from going ahead. Speaking to GP Racing ,Grosjean stated when asked if he still wants to test with Mercedes:“Yes, absolutely. We haven’t found the time yet – and yes, it’s allmy fault. “It’s not easy though – I’m looking at 30 race weekendsnext year. You guys complain about 24 in F1 and I have 18 inIndyCar, seven in endurance and five in F1 with Canal+. So it’s noteasy to add a test.” Grosjean wants to trial current generation ofcar F1 regulations for private tests allow for cars that are atleast two years old to be driven outside of official sessions.Grosjean admitted that he has been purposely putting off the testin order to get a chance in the current generation of car that cameinto play in 2022. “Also, very selfishly, I’m trying to delay it tothe point where I can actually test a new generation of cars. “Butyeah, I’m still keen to do it and whenever I see Toto he alwaysconfirms that it’s going to happen. Yes, it would be very cool toget back in an F1 car.” With his infamous Bahrain crash occurringover three years ago, Grosjean revealed that he still suffers painin his hand from where he was burned. “Some days it’s a bitpainful, the left one. But I would say 95% of the time I don’t eventhink about it.”