Each driver possesses a unique set of skills and strategies, but Romain Grosjean employs one that stands out subtly.
The 38-year-old Swiss-born Frenchman has creatively utilized the drink button on his steering wheel, even when a drink isn’t needed, to gather data points for discussion during debriefs.
Members of Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR) discussed with Motorsport.com how they discovered Grosjean’s technique during offseason testing when they observed him frequently pressing the button despite not having a drink available.
This revelation illustrated that he uses the button to signify corners of each lap, providing more precise feedback to engineers for improved setups.
This innovative approach has enabled Grosjean to achieve five top-10 finishes, including a fourth-place finish—the best result for JHR—in June at Laguna Seca over 12 points-paying races. He has also made two Fast Six appearances with the team, securing a best qualifying position of fifth each time (St. Petersburg, Toronto).
Grosjean explained to Motorsport.com: “When there’s no drink, hitting the drink button creates a mark on the data, making it straightforward for the engineer to identify during debriefs. Instead of trying to recall specifics like ‘Maybe it was Turn 3 on lap 4,’ you just press the green button.”
“With that mark on the data, when you review it later, you can easily reference it and discuss what happened instead of trying to remember every detail. Just press the button, and it’s noted.”
“I have a small brain, I guess, so it simplifies things for me!”
Romain Grosjean, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
Photo by: Geoffrey M. Miller / Motorsport Images
Regarding the origin of this clever yet simple strategy, Grosjean can’t pinpoint the exact moment he began using it, but he believes it stemmed from his early days in Formula 1.
“In Formula 1, we had a button—or perhaps it was an acknowledgment button for pitting,” Grosjean, a five-time IndyCar runner-up, recalled. “When the team called for a ‘pit’ stop, you didn’t need to respond if you had the acknowledgment button. I think I translated that concept into using the button to communicate something.”
With 179 race starts under his belt, Grosjean adapted this practice during his transition to the IndyCar Series in 2021, initially racing for Dale Coyne Racing before securing two full-time seasons with Andretti Global.
When asked if this practice is common among drivers in Europe, Grosjean paused before answering, “It depends on the team, but I don’t think so. I just try to simplify my life as much as possible.”
Romain Grosjean, Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet
Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
And Grosjean would feel honored if any current or future drivers decided to adopt his technique: “If someone takes notice of my approach, it’s flattering. That’s a good aspect of IndyCar; we’re all striving to be the best, and we’re not keeping secrets from each other, so I have no objections.”
After demonstrating the button technique to JHR, he anticipates it will serve as a valuable resource for years to come.
“I simply drew from my experiences, and they found it quite intriguing,” Grosjean remarked. “I believe they plan to incorporate it moving forward.”
“I’ve been involved in racing for over 20 years, and I always learn something new each year.”
“The beauty of sports is that you can gain wisdom without necessarily aging out. Experience is cumulative; you don’t lose your abilities, rather you refine them.”
