Romain Grosjean says his Haas F1 Team are becoming a stronger team with each season that passes, with the Frenchman aiming for a sixth top ten result of the season in Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
The Frenchman, who will go into this weekend knowing he will drop three places on the grid thanks to his penalty for first lap contact with Charles Leclerc during last weekend’s United States Grand Prix, says Haas are getting better and better with experience as they come towards the end of their third campaign in Formula 1.
“I think as the season goes on you’re always better toward the end than you were at the beginning,” said Grosjean. “You know more things. We have a very limited amount of testing, so the races become tests as well.
“If you had the knowledge you have at the end of the year at the beginning, you’d be much better. Every year is a new start. It’s fresh, and with everything new, it’s difficult. I think we’re getting stronger every year.
“We’re getting better and better. We’re using every opportunity to get more experience.”
Grosjean admits he enjoys the atmosphere that surrounds the Mexican Grand Prix weekend, feeling it is one of the best of the whole season, particularly after the race with all the celebrations that take place in the stadium section.
“There’s a great atmosphere in Mexico,” said the Frenchman. “It’s probably one of the best of the year. The driver parade, going through the stadium, is special.
“During the race you don’t see it, but after the chequered flag, it’s great to see it. The podium being there makes for a great image. It looks awesome from the outside.”
The Frenchman says that one of the positives of the hybrid turbo era is the relatively low performance losses they have despite running in the high altitude of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, but unlike in the previous couple of years, he hopes the team are better prepared for it this time around.
“Because we’ve got an engine turbo, we don’t lose that much performance,” said Grosjean. “So, that’s a positive of the turbo era. Then, of course, the cooling of the engine, the cooling of the brakes, the downforce you get is very low compared to the wing you’re running.
“We have to work with it. I’m hoping we’re more prepared this year than in previous years. Hopefully, we can have a good race.”
