Grosjean, from Gold Miner to F1 Driver

Romain Grosjean opened up during an interview with the official Formula 1 website about himself, his desires, his journey, and his perspective on things. The French-Swiss driver notably revealed that he is not the man he always wanted to be because, as a child, he wanted to become a gold prospector in the desert.

The Lotus driver also shared that the best advice he had been given was to never give up, which he followed and which allowed him to have a second chance in F1 and to prove his talent this year in his first full season, with notably three podiums in eleven Grand Prix.

Grosjean also states that if he could give advice to his younger self, he would try to be less shy and more open. He also explains that he admires people who give 100% no matter the circumstances, much like what all top-level athletes do, especially Formula 1 drivers who live, breathe, think, and eat F1 365 days a year.

The native of Geneva also talked about his second passion after F1, cooking, explaining that he would spend his last euro on something to eat. He also reveals that after his F1 driving career, he would like to pursue another career, that of a chef: It’s no secret that I have culinary talents, so I would try to work in a restaurant and maybe open a restaurant one day. I know many French Michelin-starred chefs – and luckily for me, they are all Formula 1 fans – so I’m sure I could find a place to develop my skills.

Still related to gastronomy, Grosjean revealed that his favorite scent was that of a freshly baked apple pie and not the smell of gasoline and burnt rubber.

The 2011 GP2 champion also stated that he doesn’t want to forget anything from his past because his mistakes have allowed him to move forward: « I think every event – even the hardest ones – teaches you something, so I don’t want to forget them. I want to keep each of them with me and learn from them – otherwise, I would be doomed to repeat them. »