Editorial Ranking 2013: Romain Grosjean (4th)
To officially close the 2013 season and move towards 2014, the MotorsInside editorial team invites you to look back on its ten best drivers of the past season. We continue our ascent in this Top 10 with Romain Grosjean, just off the podium in 4th position.
His statistics
7th in the overall standings
132 points
0 victory
6 podiums
0 fastest lap
Best qualification: 3rd (Hungary/Singapore/South Korea/United States)
Best race: 2nd (United States)
Sa saison
The 2013 season sounded a bit like the last chance for Romain Grosjean. A driver recognized for his speed, he was nevertheless nicknamed “the first lap nutcase” by Mark Webber due to the numerous accidents he was involved in.
His start to the season reflects this state of mind. With a car he struggles to tame, Romain Grosjean’s first Grand Prix are passable but far from the performance of his teammate, who secures the first victory of the season in Melbourne. The Frenchman seems to be walking on eggshells until the Bahrain Grand Prix, where he steps onto the podium after some impressive overtakes.
But this good momentum is hampered by a series of problem-filled weekends, the worst of which will remain Monaco. Wanting to go “faster than the music” in his own words, Romain Grosjean has a disastrous weekend, hitting the walls more often than not and eventually colliding with Daniel Ricciardo.
The return to 2012 Pirelli tires will mark the comeback for the Frenchman, who will deliver one of his most convincing performances of the season at the German Grand Prix. The only driver able to put pressure on Sebastian Vettel for a good part of the race, the Lotus driver is halted by the intervention of a safety car. But the momentum is established.
As his teammate announces his departure for Ferrari, the Frenchman finally shows the combination of great speed and race control. In Japan, Romain Grosjean manages to outpace the Red Bull drivers at the start and finds himself in a good position to win the race, but will ultimately be overtaken to finish on the lowest step of the podium. In India, the Frenchman is hindered by a very poor qualifying strategy and starts 17th. Taking advantage of a bold tire strategy during the race, he climbs up to 3rd position and continues his momentum.
But according to him, his best performance will remain the United States Grand Prix where he managed to take and maintain the lead over Mark Webber throughout the race, and put constant pressure on the day’s winner, Sebastian Vettel.
The Frenchman will be confirmed at Lotus in /f1/actualite/16785-classement-de-la-redaction-2013-jenson-button-10eme.html and will be eager to establish himself as the team’s lead driver, and perhaps secure a first French victory in this millennium.
The editorial opinion: Benoit Franklin recalls that “The Nurburgring marks a turning point in his season” and that he “gradually became the team’s leader.” Romain Mathon highlights that Romain Grosjean has proven “he has his place in F1 and as a top driver.”
Sarah Nuyens highlights her enormous performance in India because no one would have bet that she would finish on the podium starting from 17th place. Fabien Gaillard, on the other hand, mentions the status acquired as the “only real threat” to the Red Bulls in the last third of the season, while reminding that confirmation will be needed at the wheel of a car that might not be as dazzling.
The highlight of his season: the Japanese Grand Prix saw Romain Grosjean leading the race for the majority of the event. After a perfect start, unlike his start at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix (where he collided with Mark Webber at the second corner), the Frenchman dominated the two Red Bulls for many laps. Although he was overtaken by Sebastian Vettel, and then by Mark Webber, it was during this Grand Prix that Romain Grosjean became a potential Grand Prix winner in the eyes of everyone.
Discover the other drivers in the editorial ranking:
9th – Jules Bianchi
