Romain Grosjean says social media abuse doesn't bother him

Romain Grosjean has shrugged off the criticism he receives on social media, claiming that there will always be people who support you and others who don't. Grosjean has a reputation for crashing and it has been used against him over the internet, with trolls targeting him over it.

Grosjean had a tough season in 2019, scoring just eight points and it looked unlikely that he would retain his seat at Haas, but it was confirmed with a few rounds to go that the French driver would stay with the team for a fifth season.

He impressed during his first two full seasons in F1 with Lotus, scoring a number of podiums and occasionally fighting for race wins, but since then things have gone downhill and he has struggled, but he says he won't let the abuse get to him.

He told Autosport: "Not long ago I went to see a concert with my wife. We posted a selfie, and a guy commenting [abuse] on it got a kick out of it. On the street, you'll never meet a guy who'll say things to your face.

"I'm better off being liked or disliked than having no charisma at all. There are people who support me, others who don't - I understand that.

"Sometimes we can chat on social media. That's what social networks are for, to ask for explanations behind a thought: 'Why do you say that Grosjean crashed everywhere last year? Get me the statistics and we'll talk about it again.'

"Sometimes they are easy to criticise, but once again, among those I meet every day, there has never been one person across the street who has said that to me."