The Frenchman just signed up to race in the IndyCar with Dale Coyne for 2021, after feeling that the American series offered him the best chance of winning again.
However, the uncertainty about the impact of the coronavirus on the current F1 grid, in which six drivers have been infected so far, three of them during last season, increases the probability that substitute drivers will have to be used with little advance.
Asked by Motorsport.com on Wednesday on whether he would be interested in becoming a replacement, or if F1 was completely over for him, Grosjean made it clear that he wouldn’t be against the idea if there was an offer.
“I think it’s a closed book, but never say never,” he said. “If there is any good opportunity in Formula 1, I would be more than happy to take it.”
“I have the experience and I think I can adapt to the car.”
“We have seen with Pierre Gasly that he has recently tested positive for COVID, that COVID still exists, so there is always a risk that a driver will not compete in a race.”
“Then the newest outside of Formula 1 are Kevin (Magnussen), myself and Alex Albon, so we have the experience and we know the newest cars. So hopefully they will call us.”
“But really, I think one thing I learned from my accident is that life is short and I want to have the option of saying no to something. And if it’s being in Formula 1 to just get out of Q1 once or twice a year, and having that, that chapter is closed for me. “
“I’d rather look at other places where I can go racing and potentially try to win races.”
Grosjean’s F1 career came to an abrupt end after a stunning crash in Bahrain last year, so he is still looking forward to a proper farewell to the category with one final test.
Last year, the boss of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, said that if Grosjean couldn’t be offered that opportunity on another team, then he would be open to giving him a shot.
Speaking of whether the plans for a test had advanced, Grosjean said: “I still really want to get in the Mercedes F1 car, for sure. It is an offer that cannot be refused, and only for me to have an understanding of the taste of that car. and how it was working. “
“Right now, I think they are absolutely full on building the new car for the new season. So I’m not going to call Toto right now, but he can expect a call, eventually, asking him to test it.”
He added: “The offer touched me in a good way. I was surprised that it was such a natural way to do it and, obviously, I would love to do it.”