Formula 1

Grosjean Unsure About Mexico Pace as Tyre Grip Level Concerns Continue

1 Mins read
Credit: Octane Photographic Ltd

Romain Grosjean says this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix will be a challenge for his Haas F1 Team, particularly as they go there unsure whether they will be able to get the Pirelli tyres to work with their VF17 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Haas dropped to eighth in the Constructors’ Championship last weekend at the Circuit of The Americas thanks to Carlos Sainz Jr. scoring a seventh place finish for the Renault Sport Formula 1 Team, but heading into Mexico, Grosjean is hopeful of finding the grip levels needed to be competitive.

“[We have to] find the right set-up and find the right way to get the tyres to work at their best in those conditions, which is always a challenge,” said Grosjean.

“The more grip you have, the better you are. I think even with more downforce, we’re still going to lose the same amount as we did last year in terms of percentage, compared to a normal track. It’s going to be slippery.”

The team’s tyre issues have been widely documented this season, with different circuits and different conditions having varying effects on their fortunes, and although Grosjean feels they have improved, there is still a lot of work to be done to overcome these problems.

“I guess that’s still our Achilles’ heel,” said Grosjean. “We’re still struggling a bit with getting our tyres right. That comes with time and experience.

“We are getting better. We’re all working hard to find the right answers. Sometimes though, we still don’t have them. We do on some occasions, which is great, but on others we don’t. We just have to come to a racetrack and see, then we try to do our best from there.

“Some circuits you need a slow out-lap not to heat the tyres too hard. Other circuits you really need to push hard on the out-lap to generate the temperature and the grip. It really does change circuit to circuit. We just have to go and see.”

13769 posts

About author
Long time motorsport fanatic, covering Formula 1 and the occassional other series. Feel free to give him a follow on Twitter at @Paul11MSport.
Articles
Related posts
Formula 1

2024 Australian Grand Prix - TCF Driver of the Weekend

2 Mins read
TheCheckeredFlag Driver of the Weekend is revealed for the 2024 Australian Grand Prix.
Formula 1

2024 Australian Grand Prix – What the Team Principals are Saying after the Race

7 Mins read
The ten Team Principals reflect on drivers performances at Albert Park during Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix, a race that saw Ferrari claim their first win of 2024.
Formula 1

2024 Australian Grand Prix – What the Drivers are Saying after the Race – Part 2

7 Mins read
Those who missed out on points in Australia reflect on their races, including Max Verstappen, who retired from a Grand Prix for the first time since the same event in 2022.