GP2’s newly crowned champion is ready to return to F1, according to his manager Eric Boullier.
Frenchman Boullier, in charge of the Gravity management company, doubles as Renault team principal, where countryman Romain Grosjean is regarded as a possible teammate for Russian Vitaly Petrov next year.
The team is however hoping that Robert Kubica will be fit to return in 2012, and so there are reportedly also talks between Gravity and a couple of alternative F1 employers for Grosjean.
The 25-year-old’s abortive grand prix debut in 2009, amid the crashgate scandal and Nelson Piquet’s sacking as the teammate for Fernando Alonso, was shaky.
Boullier thinks the French driver is now ready for his second chance after wrapping up the GP2 title at Spa.
“Everybody is talking about him in the paddock now. “He became the new GP2 champion three races before the end, which is impressive,” he said.
“He’s done a good job in that discipline and I think he’s now ready to step back into formula one,” added Boullier.
Grosjean has now become Renault’s official reserve for the remainder of 2011, after Bruno Senna stepped up to replace Nick Heidfeld in Belgium and beyond.
Brazilian Senna qualified an impressive seventh at Spa but was criticised for his first corner crash.
“It’s difficult to draw too much from one race alone, whether that’s in terms of who is in the race seat or the effect of the upgrade package.
“Monza should give us a clearer indication as to how things are going,” he added.
Source:GMM
