Romain Grosjean is scheduled to get back into the cockpit of a Formula 1 car through a Previous Cars Testing event with his former team, Haas, at the Mugello circuit.
The planned activity is scheduled for Friday at the Italian track, marking the first occasion the 39-year-old will operate F1 equipment since the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix.
The events of that particular race are well-known: Grosjean’s car experienced a high-impact crash of 67G through a barrier, resulting in an immediate ignition and leaving the then-Haas driver confined within the vehicle for a duration of 28 seconds.
Largely attributed to the implementation of the halo safety device and other safety improvements, Grosjean’s injuries were limited to burns on his hands, albeit severe enough to sideline him for the two remaining events of the 2020 season.
That ultimately concluded his F1 racing career, considering the French driver was already slated for departure. This forthcoming opportunity will be the first time he’s driven an F1 car since then.
The following elucidates the nature of the testing activity Grosjean is slated to participate in.
What comprises a TPC in F1?
Carlos Sainz, Williams FW47
Photo by: Clive Mason/Getty Images
TPC is the abbreviation for Testing of Previous Cars, which serves as a mechanism for F1 teams to operate outside the limitations imposed on sanctioned testing activities.
As an example, during the 2025 season, teams were permitted three days of pre-season testing for evaluating their new vehicles intended for the upcoming racing year. Beyond this, the only avenue for testing current equipment is through designated filming days; however, teams face restrictions that limit them to no more than 200km of track time utilizing demonstration tyres supplied by Pirelli.
These testing restrictions have been progressively implemented in recent years with the intention of managing expenditure and ensuring competitive parity by curtailing unrestricted testing, which was previously allowed.
Consequently, TPC initiatives gain significance. TPC allows F1 teams the ability to perform up to 20 days of operational running using a vehicle that is a minimum of two years prior to the current season. In Grosjean’s instance, he is scheduled to pilot the 2023 Haas F1 car.
That particular vehicle was campaigned by Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen during a challenging season for Haas, culminating in their position at the bottom of the championship standings with 12 points—a period that coincided with Grosjean’s participation in IndyCar.
TPC was formally incorporated into the sporting regulations in the 2010s and is an activity engaged in by all teams throughout the year.
What advantages do F1 teams accrue from conducting TPC programs?
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Davide Cavazza
F1 teams derive several advantages from undertaking TPC programs, most notably, the opportunity to enhance operational readiness—particularly at the commencement of the racing calendar.
Following the off-season, both drivers and team personnel may experience a reduction in sharpness; TPC offers a practical method for re-engaging focus, fostering team cohesion, and sustaining peak race preparedness. Additionally, it presents a beneficial avenue for integrating drivers with new team members—and vice versa—should they have transitioned to different teams.
For instance, Lewis Hamilton participated in driving the SF-23 in January subsequent to his joining Ferrari for the 2025 season. This enabled him to conduct evaluations, engage with his newly appointed engineers and Ferrari leadership, and connect with the tifosi in preparation for the upcoming year.
It can also be advantageous for entities such as Cadillac, as they prepare to enter the championship in 2026. The American team has stated intentions to conduct similar testing activities. Although they lack an in-house legacy vehicle to utilize, team principal Graeme Lowdon indicated that they will receive assistance from a competing team—likely Ferrari, given Cadillac’s intent to employ the Italian manufacturer’s power units.
TPC also is a means to allocate track time to emergent drivers associated with team developmental programs. This occasion provides them an exposure to exhibit their capabilities in hopes of securing a future F1 seat, concurrently allowing teams to gather performance data concerning both the driver’s aptitude and the characteristics of specific tracks or car performance attributes.
Are any limitations applied to TPC within F1?
Power unit Ferrari
Operating within TPC programs is subject to numerous restrictions as outlined in Article 10.2 of the sporting regulations. The vehicle utilized must be at least two years old, and only one vehicle is permitted for use per day. Referring back to the example of Grosjean, designating the VF-23 for his session prohibits him from operating any other Haas vehicle concurrently.
Further limitations apply to the track type used; the FIA stipulates that the circuit must possess a Grade 1 license—also a fundamental prerequisite for tracks seeking inclusion on the F1 calendar.
Essentially, any circuit utilized for TPC may already appear on the F1 schedule. As such, teams are restricted from using a track slated to host a grand prix within the subsequent 60 days. The regulations also address third-party involvement, as evidenced by Cadillac’s arrangement, requiring any collaborative effort with a rival team to secure approval from the FIA.
Additional constraints pertain to the total amount of permissible running. Under regulations updated for 2025, teams are capped at a maximum of 20 days, with only four of these allocated to their current, full-time drivers. Additionally, teams cannot exceed a combined distance of 1000km during the tests.
This amendment was enacted following Max Verstappen’s test run at Imola in a Red Bull F1 car that was two years old, an exercise intended to clarify development pathways. McLaren also faced scrutiny for conducting an exhaustive program with their active drivers.
Further modifications are scheduled for 2026, given that half of the teams are changing power unit suppliers in accordance with new regulations. This circumstance introduces inquiries regarding how these teams will conduct TPC programs. The FIA has mandated that for the subsequent two seasons, engine suppliers with expiring contracts must continue providing current power units to their former customer teams.
The regulatory body has opted against imposing budgetary restrictions, thereby affording suppliers autonomy in determining costs. The anticipation is that this policy will result in increased pricing; nonetheless, due to TPC programs being outside the budget cap, these costs will not impact a team’s development expenditure.
