Each driver has constructed up a provide of instruments and methods of their respective arsenal, however Romain Grosjean has one that’s subtly distinctive.
The 38-year-old Swiss-born Frenchman has utilized the button on the steering wheel that gives him a drink – even when one isn’t relevant within the automotive – as a part of an information level for areas to deal with throughout debriefs.
Crew members of Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) shared with Motorsport.com their studying of Grosjean’s method throughout offseason testing, once they seen he continued to hit the button regardless of not having a drink within the automotive.
It was solely then they realized he makes use of it to dissect corners of every lap in an effort to present extra detailed suggestions to the engineers for enhanced setups.
This method has helped Grosjean rating 5 top-10s, together with recording JHR’s best-ever results of fourth in June at Laguna Seca, by the 12 points-paying rounds. He additionally has two Quick Six appearances with the staff, qualifying a better of fifth every time (St. Petersburg, Toronto).
Grosjean instructed Motorsport.com: “The drink button, when there’s no drink, it’s a mark on the information, so it’s straightforward for the engineer to search out out as a result of you already know when do the debrief and also you do runs – you’re like, ‘Perhaps it was Flip 3 on lap 4 or…’ and as an alternative of making an attempt to recollect which quantity or which nook it was, let’s press the inexperienced button.
“Then you have got a mark on the information, after which whenever you simply open up the group knowledge and also you see the place the mark is on, I do know what occurred after which you possibly can discuss it as an alternative of making an attempt to recollect the place it was and which it was on by any means and simply press the button, it’s there.
“I’ve a small mind, I suppose, so this might make it straightforward!”
Romain Grosjean, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Photographs
So far as the origin of Grosjean’s good but easy idea, he doesn’t bear in mind precisely when however is aware of it began within the early days of his Formulation 1 profession.
“We had the button, or possibly it was the acknowledge button for pitting, in Formulation 1,” stated Grosjean, a five-time runner-up in IndyCar.
“After they known as ‘pit’ so that you don’t essentially have to reply in case you had the acknowledge button. So, I believe I type of translated that into, ‘Okay, I can use the button to sign one thing.’”
A veteran of 179 begins, Grosjean transformed that trait in his transition to the IndyCar Sequence in 2021, the place he debuted with Dale Coyne Racing in a partial marketing campaign prior to 2 full-time campaigns with Andretti International.
When requested if it was a typical follow with drivers in Europe, Grosjean paused after which acknowledged: “It relies on what staff, however no, I don’t assume so. I simply attempt to make my life as straightforward as I can.”
Romain Grosjean, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Photographs
And Grosjean can be flattered by any present or potential drivers that undertake this methodology: “If I get seen in one thing, I’ll take it. That’s an excellent factor with IndyCar, I believe, we’re on the market making an attempt laborious to be the most effective driver and it’s not like we’re hiding issues from the others, so I don’t thoughts.”
Upon showcasing the button hack to JHR, although, he might see them implementing that as a useful resource for years to return.
“I simply used my expertise they usually took it onboard they usually thought it was a reasonably cool thought,” Grosjean stated. “So, I suppose they’re going to make use of it sooner or later.
“However yeah, you already know, I’ve been doing this for 20-plus years and, after all, you study yearly.
“That’s the great thing about sport, is you may be outdated with out being outdated. I don’t assume you lose your capability however you acquire increasingly expertise.”
