Romain Grosjean expects to use the last remaining example of Haas’s new front wing design after breaking one when he hit a marmot during practice today.
Grosjean said the team has “one spare one” left for him to use tomorrow. Team principal Guenther Steiner said before the weekend began the team was low on spare parts for the new aerodynamic upgrade it has introduced in Canada.The impact caused significant damage to the front of the car, Grosjean said. “The nose was quite open and I believe the animal was in there.”
“It was a big impact. It was quite a big animal,” he added.
Grosjean suggested the marmot should have been removed from the edge of the track after it had been spotted on camera early in the session.
“It’s a bit disappointing because they showed it on TV before the beginning of the session before turn 13, and [that’s exactly] where I hit it. So I’m surprised they didn’t remove it.
“Of course it’s a shame for the animal, and it’s a shame for our front wing as well. We are quite limited on spare parts and losing a front wing like this is a bit disappointing.”
Despite the setback Grosjean ended practice with the fastest time of the midfield drivers, 1.4 seconds off Max Verstappen’s pace.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Don't miss anything new from RaceFans
Follow RaceFans on social media:
2018 F1 season
- ‘It doesn’t matter if we start last’: How Red Bull’s junior team aided Honda’s leap forward
- Honda’s jet division helped F1 engineers solve power unit problem
- McLaren Racing losses rise after Honda split
- Ricciardo: Baku “s***show” was Red Bull’s fault
- “Drive to Survive Episode 1: All to Play For” reviewed
Mach1 (@mach1)
8th June 2018, 23:53
Marmots, you either love them or hate them but they do not spread well…..
….at least….I think it is Marmots……
juan fanger (@juan-fanger)
9th June 2018, 0:47
In Australia they’re called Vegemots (by New Zealanders).
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
9th June 2018, 2:09
Isn’t there an Australian song about a man with a Vegemot sandwich?
MW
9th June 2018, 6:47
He’s in Brussels
mog
9th June 2018, 9:56
well done fellas.
N
9th June 2018, 11:32
mog – LOL
[TR]
9th June 2018, 0:20
Those monsters at Haas bring spare marmots to races just so Grosjean can practice hitting stuff?
David BR (@david-br)
9th June 2018, 2:42
[chuckling]
Sush meerkat
9th June 2018, 6:48
Classic!
Bryan (@ruz234014)
9th June 2018, 14:09
Hahaha!! Nice!
Alonso (@alonshow)
9th June 2018, 20:40
XDD
COTD! ;)
Strontium (@strontium)
9th June 2018, 1:08
That’s very unfortunate, apparently Steiner had specifically said to both drivers not to damage the new aero package as they have hardly any spares
NS Biker (@rekibsn)
9th June 2018, 2:40
If someone hits one of these at speed, it could tear a wheel off.
Just ask Anthony Davidson, he winged the little furry critter.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
9th June 2018, 3:15
Murderer! I’m sure he’ll feature this in an upcoming culinary book.
Gabriel (@rethla)
9th June 2018, 9:37
This aint murder its marmotslaughter.
Ju88sy (@)
9th June 2018, 10:00
@peartree “The Roadkill Kitchen” by R. Grosjean.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
9th June 2018, 20:44
@ju88sy “a taste of north american cuisine” (not featuring Anthony Bourdain).
Jere (@jerejj)
9th June 2018, 7:24
This particular incident wasn’t shown on the world feed for some reason even though the marmot on the side of the track at the end of the longest straight was two or three times.
MattB (@mattb)
9th June 2018, 7:44
Not for the faint hearted.. https://streamable.com/aze7f
Gabriel (@rethla)
9th June 2018, 10:42
:(
@HoHum (@hohum)
9th June 2018, 8:35
Oh dear ! I hope this is not the beginning of “groundhog day” for Grosjean.
Anon
10th June 2018, 7:06
Gro will soon become a dead marmot himself in the Haas team – if he continues to crash those cars and keeps his score a null