In the meantime, as part of our series to help you get to know the world’s finest drivers better, we asked the 28-year-old Frenchman about some of the already established ‘firsts’ in his life…
Who was your first hero when you were a child?
Romain Grosjean: When I think of all the people I admired as a child, I think the one I liked most was Jean Alesi.
What was the first Grand Prix you can remember watching?
RG: I certainly remember watching the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. I am sure I watched races before that, but I cannot remember them.
How old were you when you first decided you wanted to be an F1 driver?
RG: I don’t remember when I wanted to be an F1 driver - but I realised that I could be if I wanted to when I was 19-years-old.
When was your first big accident in a race car?
RG: It was in Formula Renault 2.0 - I broke my little finger at a race in Zolder. It was a big shunt.
What colour was your first helmet?
RG: Blue, orange and yellow. Now as I say it, it sounds like I had a preference for parrots… (laughs)
When did you win your first trophy in racing and what did it look like?
RG: It was a kart race in Varennes in France. I don’t remember what the trophy looked like, but I also won a toolbox - and that travelled with me for quite some time!
What was the first road car you drove?
RG: It must have been my mum’s Renault.
Where was the first house you lived in?
RG: It was close to Geneva, Switzerland, with my parents.
How nervous were you on your first day of school?
RG: I didn’t really like to go to school. I am quite shy so my first day was a bit of a drama.
What was the first meal you ever cooked?
RG: Pasta - al dente!
What was the first thing you did this morning?
RG: Take my vitamins.
What was the first thing you did after getting your first seat in F1 racing?
RG: I was on a flight from London to Geneva and I got a call telling me that I would drive in the European Grand Prix in 2009, so I called my then girlfriend - now my wife - and my dad.
What was the first record you bought?
RG: I think it was something in the range of ‘Dance Volume 13’. The sophistication came a bit later! (laughs)
What was the first sport you participated in as a kid?
RG: Viet vu dao - a Vietnamese martial art.
How old were you when you had your first romantic kiss?
RG: It was at a race track. I don’t want to go into details…
When was the first time you were asked to sign an autograph for a fan?
RG: Probably when I won the Swiss Formula Renault 2.0 championship in 2003.
When did you first taste champagne?
RG: I cannot remember - but as it is now my favourite drink I must have liked it!
Which would you eat first - a piece of fruit or a piece of chocolate?
RG: Now that’s a question. A piece of chocolate - still.
What was the first word you said as a baby?
RG: Obviously it must have been either ‘mama’ or ‘papa’, but I remember that I had quite a few issues as a toddler saying ‘aspirateur’ (vacuum cleaner). I created quite a number of amazing words out of it…