Gene Haas has said that he will not force Romain Grosjean to stay at the new American outfit if a "top team" wants to sign him.

A tough weekend in China aside, Frenchman Grosjean has been impressive for the Ferrari-linked outfit so far, amid his obvious desire to one day switch to the works team.

Ferrari has a potential vacancy for 2017, and team founder Haas said: "I would never hold on to a reluctant driver."

"Romain is happy now, but if one of the two top teams offered him a contract and was ready to pay the termination clause, it would be silly not to accept it," the Californian is quoted as saying by Tuttosport.

"Romain is a good guy and if he gets the chance to fight for the title it would not be fair if he was not able to try."

Grosjean sits in eighth place in the drivers' standings after the first three races of the year.