Romain Grosjean is getting closer and closer to making his Formula One debut this season, after the Frenchman was handed the responsibility to test the R29 during the team's latest straight-line testing session in the UK. The Frenchman therefore got behind the wheel of Renault's 2009 challenger for the first time, as he is very close to joining the F1 field starting the Valencia round.
While currently fighting for his maiden GP2 Main Series crown in Formula One's feeder championship, the Frenchman's chances of debuting for Renault received a boost after Nelsinho Piquet's public attack on team manager Flavio Briatore.
The Brazilian sophomore slammed his Italian boss for his money-making orientated strategy inside the sport, accusing him that “he doesn't know s*** about F1.” If there were some rumors, prior to the Hungarian GP, suggesting Piquet's seat at Renault was kind of uncertain, his comments surely got him a “persona non grata” status back at Enstone.
As far as Grosjean goes, the 23-year old Frenchman has been linked with an F1 debut with Renault ever since the winter of 2008, shortly after completing his maiden season in the GP2 Series. However, the team chose to wait for another year, in order for Grosjean to gain more experience in the championship.
The straight-line testing session this week took place on the runaway of the Imperial War Museum in Cambridgeshire (UK), but Renault did not mention the reason for it. And that's another reason for us to believe Grosjean will take the wheel of the R29 at Valencia, as he was probably asked to get used to driving it before the actual race.
While currently fighting for his maiden GP2 Main Series crown in Formula One's feeder championship, the Frenchman's chances of debuting for Renault received a boost after Nelsinho Piquet's public attack on team manager Flavio Briatore.
The Brazilian sophomore slammed his Italian boss for his money-making orientated strategy inside the sport, accusing him that “he doesn't know s*** about F1.” If there were some rumors, prior to the Hungarian GP, suggesting Piquet's seat at Renault was kind of uncertain, his comments surely got him a “persona non grata” status back at Enstone.
As far as Grosjean goes, the 23-year old Frenchman has been linked with an F1 debut with Renault ever since the winter of 2008, shortly after completing his maiden season in the GP2 Series. However, the team chose to wait for another year, in order for Grosjean to gain more experience in the championship.
The straight-line testing session this week took place on the runaway of the Imperial War Museum in Cambridgeshire (UK), but Renault did not mention the reason for it. And that's another reason for us to believe Grosjean will take the wheel of the R29 at Valencia, as he was probably asked to get used to driving it before the actual race.