Romain Grosjean believes Formula 1 is a “show” not a sport, because the reliance on having a good car means it isn’t “fair”.
In his Formula 1 career, the Frenchman started 164 races, scoring 10 podium finishes in the process.
He hasn’t been close to winning a race since joining Haas in 2016. However, and there has even been a backlash from some who thought he didn’t deserve his current 2020 contract with the team.
But in Grosjean’s opinion. The fact that drivers use their team’s competitive car to win races means that F1 is not a “sport,” but a “series.” He went so far as to say F1 is the leading Roger Federer to go to Roland Garros with a ping-pong racket.
As Motorsport.com quoted when asked if he accepted at the age of 33 that he would probably retire without winning, he said:
“Can happen. I mean, I was lucky to have been on the podium 10 times already. I think I should have won two great prizes [ Europe 2012 and Germany 2013 ], and it wasn’t my way.
I’m not so sure. It’s a spectacle, but competition should be equal and Formula 1 is unjust.
The car is very physical to drive a Formula 1. It’s hard, it’s demanding, it’s a lot of effort going from everybody. Roger Federer to go to Roland Garros is asking. With a ping-pong racket. He is not going to get a chance.
Do they consider tennis a sport if they didn’t all come with the same rackets, or if the court is bigger on one side than on the other?
A more F1-related example Grosjean used was Daniel Ricciardo’s situation. To join Renault for 2019 He left a race-winning drive at Red Bull. Despite having seven career wins to his name, P9 was the best he could manage in the Drivers ‘ Championships.
I say, imagine Daniel Ricciardo. If you are just taking his time at Renault, he hasn’t even scored a podium.