Ex-Haas F1 driver Grosjean reacts to Steiner team exit

Ex-Haas Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean has reacted to theKannapolis-based team's management reshuffle ahead of the upcomingcampaign. Haas announced earlier this week that Guenther Steinerwill not return to his Team Principal role when the new season getsunderway later this year. In his place arrives Ayao Komatsu, whosteps up from his Director of Engineering position having been partof the Haas set-up since its debut. Grosjean has vast experienceworking with Komatsu with the latter performing as the Frenchman'srace engineer at Lotus before they made the switch to Haastogether. Grosjean spent five seasons competing for the US-ownedteam, joining in 2016 before leaving towards the end of the 2020campaign following his horrific crash at the 2020 Bahrain GrandPrix. While Grosjean asserted that he has few ideas over whatoccurred behind the scenes amid Steiner's departure, the 13-timepodium finisher expressed delight over Komatsu's promotion. “Idon't know what happened,” Grosjean said. “I don't know moredetails than you do, but I wish Guenther all the best in his nextchapter. “He's definitely a man that's got a lot of ideas andthings to do, but for me the main thing is [I’m] very happy forAyao.” 'Huge challenge' Following his F1 departure at the end of2020, Grosjean moved to IndyCar competition and will tackle theupcoming year with Juncos Juncos Hollinger Racing. Although his F1years are behind him, Grosjean shares a strong friendship withKomatsu. The Tokyo-born engineer is now tasked with lifting Haasfrom its bottom-of-the-grid slumber - a duty that will be a “hugechallenge”, according to Grosjean. “Yeah, I saw the news as most ofus, I’m very happy for Komatsu,” the Frenchman said. “First of all,he's a very good friend of mine. I competed in every one of my 181Formula 1 [races] with him working on my car somehow. “His kids arethe same age as my kids, so we've been very good friends, and I'mexcited for him. It's a huge challenge in front of him but I'mexcited for him.” wv_xXsqg980