Romain Grosjean says he is now considering IndyCar as an option for the 2021 season after finding battling at the back in Formula 1 “hard to swallow”.
Grosjean, a 10-time Formula 1 podium finisher, will leave Haas at the end of the current campaign and is highly unlikely to remain in the championship.
He has expressed an interest in Formula E and Peugeot’s upcoming Le Mans Hypercar project but was previously lukewarm to the prospect of IndyCar, citing his hesitancy to compete on ovals.
But of next year’s planned 17 events only four are due to take place on ovals, with a double-header at the Texas Motor Speedway and Gateway’s round joining the Indianapolis 500.
“[IndyCar] is an option and if I’m brutally honest I haven’t been sleeping very well for the last two weeks,” he said after qualifying in 16th place at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
“It’s a tough year for the world, for the economy, it’s not a good year to be out of contract and out of the sport you were in.
“Yes I’ve been looking at IndyCar, I’ve had some contact and some good ones.
“I kind of regret I didn’t check the calendar earlier that there were only two speedways and one short track in terms of ovals.
“Having said that it’s not over and it’s something I would consider, obviously it’s a big change in the life and so on.”
Grosjean revealed that he had been in touch with former Formula 1 rival and IndyCar convert Marcus Ericsson over the championship’s advantages.
“I spoke with Marcus when he went there and he really liked it, he said it’s different, old style, the driver has a big role and things to play, the cars are fun,” he said.
“There are teams better than others but everyone has a chance to win the race.
“A day like today where I think Kev [Magnussen] and myself did a bloody good quali lap, we’re 16th and 17th it’s hard to swallow.
“And probably now I want to win races and have a chance, and win races where I can have fun, so IndyCar is on the menu.”
Hmmm…not many seats if any left there. He’d need sponsorship to drive too. Any team able to add an extra car would need it covered cost-wise. More vacancies in WEC or GT3 nowadays