Grosjean receives grid penalty for Monaco
- Published on 13 May 2018 19:01
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Romain Grosjean has received a three-place grid penalty for causing a collision on lap 1 of the Spanish Grand Prix. The French driver spun at Turn 3 and floored his accelerator, causing a wall of smoke and making visibility next to impossible for his fellow drivers.
Both Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly failed to avoid the spinning Haas driver, and all three racers retired from the race on the spot. Speaking after his retirement, Hulkenberg said that Grosjean "needs to do his homework".
But Grosjean says that there was not much that he could do to avoid an incident: "I lost the rear end of the car and I tried to put it back as long as I could but it just didn’t work.
“I don’t think there was much I could do. If I had braked, the car would have slid the same way. I tried to stay on the throttle to spin it to try not and face other people. It didn’t work but I don’t think there was anything different.”
"It’s a human reflex if you look at Rosberg in 2016 and Schumacher in 2010. If I had braked I would have stayed in the middle [of the track] and it would have been the same thing. Unfortunately once the car started going forwards again onto the track, it was very difficult.”
In addition to his grid penalty for the Monaco Grand Prix in two weeks, Grosjean has also been issued three penalty points onto his super licence.
Full statement from the stewards:
"Car eight was following car 20 [Kevin Magnussen] at the exit of turn two when car 20 had a momentary loss of control. Car eight avoided car 20 which caused him to lose control of the car to the left of the track at the entry to turn three.
"The driver explained to the stewards that he felt that his momentum was going to carry him to the centre of the track, and therefore made the decision to apply power in an attempt to cross to the right side of the track and get out of the way of the cars behind. However, while crossing he moved into the line of cars 27 and car 10, and all three cars were involved in a collision that took them out of the race.
"The driver stated to the Stewards that he made the decision to cross the track, trying to avoid the other cars and that he felt this was his best option. The stewards found that while it is speculation as to where the driver’s car would have ended up had he chosen other alternatives, it is certain that while crossing the track in front of the following pack of cars, which he chose to do, that a collision occurred.
"Further, in reviewing the video, the stewards found that the car was following the line on the left side of the track and was almost fully off the track, when he made the decision to cross it."
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Replies (12)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Thats fair. I do however think three places is a too mild penalty, I would've given him five, but thats beside the point.
Bhurt
Posts: 320
Fair? He states the smoke he created didn't contribute to what happened to Hulkenberg and Gasly. This guy is the worst driver on the grid and even THIS error he refuses to take responsibility for. He would have been unemployed by the time he got back to the pits if I was Gene Haas.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I was saying that I think its fair that he got penalized for it. As you might notice, I would have penalized him harder, as I found it to be a very clumsy move (crossing the track mid pack? Really now...). I do however disagree with the notion that he is the worst he isnt, he is just nowhere near as good as he think he is, and thats a problem.
Jutlandia
Posts: 191
I belive that if had he not done that donought, and instead activated the clutch right away, he would have stayed at the outside of the curve,
Not a clever move from him.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Amazing that Haas has arguably the best car in the midfield and Romain sti has no points to his name. He is having a rough time lately. Maybe it's time to call that's sports psyche that helped him when he kept on crashing on the first lap
Freguz
Posts: 160
I think it was Ericssons fault
Patentprutser
Posts: 388
?? Maybe the spin, not the way Grosjean reacted.
Freguz
Posts: 160
:) in Baku Grosjan blamed Ericsson for his spin, even though he was not even in the same area. So this has become a ... ”saying”?
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Is this the new "Thanks Obama"? XD
TinyLaniakea
Posts: 2
Nahh I think you guys are to harsh on Grosjean-
We finally have signs that we have the good old Grosjean back there where in a class of his own from delivering drama..
here way back in 2012 kavalkade
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VqPa9xEtpA
Just imagine what Haas and Kevin could accomplish if we saw like this again, 2012 season exampled first 5 race-starts about first corner..
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO8MdjqhFbQ
Grosjean should just go after the top3 (literally)and take them out' and we would have Best of the rest chances,
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
The irony is that Grosjean is actually pretty decent wheel to wheel racing. Most of his mistakes as unforced or during the first lap. Strange character, at his best he was more less keeping up with Kimi, at his worst he is a Pastor Maldonado without the speed.
ZUKMAN
Posts: 40
Haas can qualify there at 7 place at best. Plus 3 position penalty now Crashjean can only hope for one single point.