Grosjean eyes private F1 test if he can’t race in Abu Dhabi
Romain Grosjean hopes to find a way to do a private test in a Formula 1 car early next year if he is unable to take part in the Abu Dhabi GP.

The Frenchman is still targeting a return at the season finale, but it depends on the progress his left hand makes in the coming days, with skin grafts still a possibility.
He made it clear that if he can’t race in Abu Dhabi, he would like to have a private outing to in effect get some closure on his F1 career, and get back in a cockpit for the first time since his crash in last weekend's Bahrain GP.
However, at the same time he hasn’t ruled out returning as a substitute race driver in 2021, should a vacancy arise.
“Jumping back in the car, it's been my life, and I would like to cross the finish line properly when I finish my career in F1,” he said in a Zoom call with media on Friday.
“I don't really want it to be over on that day. Even if the footage of having a Haas crossing at the back of the field will be less dramatic and probably less broadcast around the world, I would like to. If it doesn't happen, it's okay, I will have other opportunities to cross other finish lines in the future."
Grosjean stressed that one of his main concerns is that a premature return may cause permanent damage to his left hand.
“I won't take to risk losing mobility of my left index and left thumb for the rest of my life, just to go to Abu Dhabi.
“The story would be beautiful to go to Abu Dhabi. If I don't, I'll call every single F1 team and see if anyone would offer me a private test in January or so, to jump back in the car, and have 10-15 laps to myself.”
“The doctors say that is difficult to know yet [if] the right hand 100% will be ready [by Abu Dhabi]. The strength and the mobility in the left hand gets better day after day. The strength is here. The mobility, there's still a lot of swelling from the inflammation. So, this needs to start reducing. But grafts haven't been ruled out yet.
“I'm joking, I'm happy, but the pain of the last two days has been high. I'm quite strong with pain.
"I broke my right hand early this year, falling down in the kitchen. I haven't told anyone, but it was an open break, two bones I put myself in place, and went to the hospital, and the pain was okay. So I'm very strong with some pain. Fever, I'm not good. I've got 39 degrees of fever, I'm gonna die! But that type of pain, I'm okay. So we will see.”
Read Also:
Grosjean also expanded on the treatment he has received in Bahrain this week.
“I think the body is recovering as quick as it can,” he said. “Burns are not an exact science. I’m quite good with knowing about burning nowadays, I’ve learned a lot!
"I went through some tough times when they started cutting the blisters with scissors, and then they started peeling off the skin. You see things that you don’t really want to see.
“So, it’s not an exact science, and I’m hopeful every day that it recovers better than it does the previous day. When will I have a final answer? I don’t know yet.
“Obviously I’ve got 60 years or so to go with my left hand, so one race is important to me, but not as important as living a normal life for the rest of my life.”
He admitted that aiming for Abu Dhabi return is helping him mentally.
“Obviously it’s a target that helps me to keep positive, and keep moving. The first step yesterday was to go to the track, and one of the first things I did was go to the car, and I looked over the halo and cockpit just to see if there were any strange feelings, panic, scare moments, and it was fine. Already that’s kind of a positive step.
“On Sunday night the first video call I did with my wife and kids, and my dad was there, I said, ‘I will race in Abu Dhabi.’
“You can imagine their reaction, they weren’t very impressed with me! And I won’t blame them, and I always understand that they don’t accept it.
“It’s very selfish, but it’s what I need, and it’s what I want to do. If it doesn’t happen, I’m alive, I will have plenty of opportunities in the future. I will have a superlicence in 2021, and we’ve seen that no one is safe from COVID. So let’s see.”
Related video

Previous article
Grosjean gives full account of Bahrain fire escape
Next article
Verstappen: "Very tough" to beat Mercedes even without Hamilton

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Drivers | Romain Grosjean |
Teams | Haas F1 Team |
Author | Adam Cooper |
Grosjean eyes private F1 test if he can’t race in Abu Dhabi
The defining traits that set F1’s best apart
What makes the very best drivers in Formula 1 stand out among what is already a highly elite bunch? Andrew Benson takes a closer look at those with the special blend of skill, judgment, feel and attitude that sets only a select few apart from the rest.
The updates Williams hopes will lead to a point-scoring return
After producing a car which demonstrated progress but lacked the points to prove it last year, Williams starts its new era of team ownership with the FW43B, its bid to continue the climb up the Formula 1 grid in 2021
How Ferrari plans to recover from its 2020 F1 nightmare
The 2020 Formula 1 season was Ferrari's worst for 40 years as it slumped to sixth in the standings. A repeat performance will not be acceptable for the proud Italian team, which has adopted a notably pragmatic approach to forging its path back to the top
Why Aston Martin’s arrival is more than just new green livery
In the most eagerly anticipated Formula 1 team launch of the season, the rebranded Aston Martin squad’s changes go much further than the striking paint job. But rather than a restart, the team hopes to build on top of solid foundations.
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat