Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

Why McLaren removed its new front wing before F1 sprint qualifying in Canada

Formula 1
Canadian GP
Why McLaren removed its new front wing before F1 sprint qualifying in Canada

McLaren finds ally in Red Bull over F1 team alliances concerns

Formula 1
Canadian GP
McLaren finds ally in Red Bull over F1 team alliances concerns

DTM Zandvoort: Cairoli takes maiden win as Auer grabs championship lead

DTM
Zandvoort
DTM Zandvoort: Cairoli takes maiden win as Auer grabs championship lead

Why Aston Martin hasn’t updated its F1 car since March

Formula 1
Canadian GP
Why Aston Martin hasn’t updated its F1 car since March

BTCC Snetterton: Cammish fastest from Ingram in hot conditions

BTCC
Snetterton (300 Circuit)
BTCC Snetterton: Cammish fastest from Ingram in hot conditions

Norris points out a key problem with F1 2026's energy management demands

Formula 1
Canadian GP
Norris points out a key problem with F1 2026's energy management demands

Can anyone stop Reddick from lifting the NASCAR Cup title?

Feature
NASCAR Cup
Can anyone stop Reddick from lifting the NASCAR Cup title?

Super Formula Suzuka: Fenestraz wins chaotic opening race

Super Formula
Suzuka
Super Formula Suzuka: Fenestraz wins chaotic opening race

Haas F1 brake problems now 'too much' - Romain Grosjean

Romain Grosjean described the Haas Formula 1 team's ongoing brake difficulties as "dangerous" and unacceptable after suffering another problem in Japanese Grand Prix practice

Five days after a brake on Grosjean's car exploded at Sepang, the Frenchman was sent into the gravel again at Suzuka.

During second practice Grosjean, who claimed on Thursday he would tone down his in-car radio messages, described his brakes as "shit".

Asked about his emotions over the radio, Grosjean replied: "Just jump in my place!

"You drive at 320km/h and the brake doesn't work, how would you react?

"It could be dangerous. Yes, there are things I don't accept.

"It's not against the team, it's against the suppliers.

"Today I crashed because the brakes didn't work, so I think it's normal to be a bit annoyed."

Grosjean said the situation was particularly worrying given Suzuka's high-speed nature.

"Everywhere is dangerous, but here especially because it's very high speed," he added.

"The last race I was lucky to escape with nothing [injured], we come here and my brakes go again, it's a bit too much."

He admitted braking earlier on occasion amid his anxiety.

"It's not ideal, let's put it that way, but then you don't go for the last five metres [under braking]," said Grosjean.

"It compromises lap time. Qualifying is another story, but when you are in free practice, you take it a bit more carefully.

"If it's wet this weekend then it could be worse.

"It's tricky to find the right solution, so hopefully we change the material for tomorrow and things get better."

BRAKES WERE TOO COOL

Haas team principal Gunther Steiner said the problem that sent Grosjean off the road on Friday was not an outright failure.

"It didn't fail - it locked up, it didn't bite," he told Autosport.

"There was not enough retardation so one wheel locked and he went straight.

"So we had to adjust a little the heating [of the brake].

"When carbon discs are too cold there is bad retardation, and we ran a bit too cold in the beginning, so we had to find the right level, so I hope we got there by the end of FP2."

Steiner believes Grosjean now needs something to restore his confidence in the Haas's braking.

"The issues we've had in Bahrain, Malaysia and here are all different," he added.

"The greater worry for him is the inconsistency of the braking, and obviously if it's inconsistent then on a good moment you brake late, on a bad moment you have to brake early, otherwise you get what happened to him today.

"He needs to get his confidence back, and I hope we find him a set of discs that does that tomorrow."

Previous article Engine worries leave Mercedes vulnerable
Next article F1 risks hurting its show without Bahrain 2017 testing - Mercedes

Top Comments

Latest news