Renault have confirmed that Romain Grosjean will replace Nelson Piquet Jr at the European Grand Prix in Valencia.
Grosjean has also been chosen as the team’s second driver for the remaining races of the season after Piquet Jr failed to pick up a point in 10 races.
“I’m very proud and looking forward to helping the team get the best results,” said the 23-year-old Frenchman.
“Romain is an impressive young talent and we expect him to show his skills,” said Renault team boss Flavio Briatore.
Grosjean will race alongside two-time world champion Fernando Alonso for Renault in Valencia at the weekend after getting the green light to replace Piquet Jr.
“It is an honour to be Fernando’s team-mate and to make my Formula 1 debut alongside a double world champion is especially motivating,” said Grosjean. BBC Sport
Piquet revealed two weeks ago that he had been dropped and the Brazilian lashed out at Briatore, calling the team principal his “executioner” and criticising the favourable treatment received by the team’s top driver Alonso.
“The conditions I have had to deal with during the last two years have been very strange to say the least - there are incidents that I can hardly believe occurred myself,” said the 24-year-old. Briatore thanked the driver “for his contribution”. guardian.co.uk
Grosjean acknowledges the fact he is the first home driver for Renault since the French car giant’s return to F1 team ownership in 2002 means his performances may come under more scrutiny from his homeland – but says he ready to prove his abilities.
“There is maybe a bit more attention because people have been waiting for a French driver in a Renault,” he added.
“But I will do my best to show that they were right to believe in me.”
Although Grosjean has won two races in this season’s GP2 Series and sits second in the championship, the 23-year-old has got caught up in several incidents during the season’s six rounds so far.
“I think Romain has a great racing ability and we’ve seen that demonstrated many times in GP2,” Symonds said.
“He’s certainly one of the best in the series at overtaking and with the reverse grids he has shown that he’s good at fighting his way through the field. ITV
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