Romain Grosjean admits eye on Ferrari vacancy

Romain Grosjean of Haas F1 in the paddock ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on April 17, 2016
© Getty Images
Romain Grosjean is not ruling out a change of scene for 2018.

Romain Grosjean is not ruling out a change of scene for 2018.

The Frenchman left Baku without even speaking with the media, after his 18-month struggle with his brakes at the new American team Haas culminated in a nightmare weekend.

Grosjean, 31, switched from Lotus to Haas last year amid speculation that he was deliberately moving closer to Ferrari, the American outfit's technology partner.

With Ferrari yet to sign either of their current drivers for 2018, it might be said that Grosjean is close to the front of the queue at Maranello.

"I don't know the answer [to that]," he said.

"Life is full of surprises. I think if you ask Valtteri [Bottas] what he was doing [in 2017] in December he would have said Williams and, next thing you know, he's in a world champion's car.

"So it's a phone call [away] and the best we can do is the best job on track."

Grosjean's Baku media snub aside, it is often the Frenchman's frustrated voice on the radio that is heard by the millions watching the grands prix.

"I'm frustrated sometimes," he admits, "because I love winning and that's all that matters to me in Formula 1.

"Obviously you come from other categories where you've won everything and then you come to F1 and don't get the chance. It's like you're starting the race 10 seconds behind the others."

However, Grosjean said that helping to get the Haas project off the ground has been "great", but he clearly has an eye on the driver market for 2018.

"I think it's early days. We're not even in July," he said.

"Who knows what the grid is going to look like next year. Valtteri is waiting on Mercedes, then there's Kimi [Raikkonen] - what's he going to do?

"Everyone since 2010 has said he's going to be out of Formula 1 and yet here we are and he's 37 and still here doing a decent job. So I don't know.

"If there is an opportunity, if there is a seat, I believe I'm in a good position."

The championship continues next weekend in Austria.

Kevin Magnussen of Renault in the paddock during previews ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix of Russia at Sochi Autodrom on April 28, 2016
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TeamPoints
1Mercedes250
2Ferrari226
3Red Bull137
4Force India79
5Williams-Mercedes37
6Toro Rosso33
7Haas21
8Renault18
9Sauber5
10McLaren2
DriversTeamPoints
1Sebastian VettelFerrari153
2Lewis HamiltonMercedes139
3Valtteri BottasMercedes111
4Daniel RicciardoRed Bull92
5Kimi RaikkonenFerrari73
6Max VerstappenRed Bull45
7Sergio PerezForce India44
8Esteban OconForce India35
9Carlos SainzToro Rosso29
10Felipe MassaWilliams-Mercedes20
11Nico HulkenbergRenault18
12Lance StrollWilliams-Mercedes17
13Kevin MagnussenHaas11
14Romain GrosjeanHaas10
15Pascal WehrleinSauber5
16Daniil KvyatToro Rosso4
17Fernando AlonsoMcLaren2
18Stoffel VandoorneMcLaren0
19Jolyon PalmerRenault0
20Marcus EricssonSauber0
21Antonio GiovinazziSauber0
22Jenson ButtonMcLaren0