APRIL 29, 2026 – During World Immunisation Week (24-30 April), the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is launching The Last Square Campaign to raise awareness of the urgent need to end polio, in partnership with Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean.
Drawing inspiration from the global spectacle of Formula 1 and Grosjean’s personal connection to the disease, The Last Square reimagines the iconic chequered flag, synonymous with the end of a race, by replacing one black square with a single red square. This “Last Square” represents the final 0.1% of polio cases that remain to be eradicated. Reaching this milestone would secure a polio-free future for all children, everywhere.
Grosjean brings both a personal and symbolic connection to the campaign. With his father having contracted polio in childhood, the cause holds deep personal meaning for him. As a professional racing driver, Grosjean also embodies perseverance and the drive to reach the finish line – reinforcing the campaign’s central message that no effort should stop when the end is in sight.
“My dad had polio when he was a kid, so I grew up very familiar with it” says Grosjean.”It’s a preventable disease that still paralyzes children today. And just like in racing, you don’t stop when you’re this close to the finish. That’s why we have to keep going.”
Romain Grosjean is a French-Swiss professional racing driver and former Formula One competitor, where he secured multiple podium finishes across 179 race starts. He currently races in the IndyCar Series and is widely respected for his resilience, including his escape from a dramatic crash at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix.
