Hamilton wins Bahrain GP
Grosjean escapes burning car following 1st-lap crash
Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton won a crash-marred Bahrain Grand Prix where Romain Grosjean somehow escaped with only minor burns after his car exploded into a fireball.
The 34-year-old French driver slid off the track Sunday at high speed on the first lap and his Haas car burst into flames after being sliced in two by a barrier. Grosjean clambered out with the fire roaring behind him and his race helmet singed. He was conscious and stable and then taken by helicopter to a military hospital.
Governing body FIA said in a statement that Grosjean was staying overnight in a military hospital to have treatment for burns on the back of both hands, but that he did not have any fractures despite hitting the barriers at an estimated speed of 125 mph.
Late on Sunday, F1 posted a video of a smiling Grosjean speaking from his hospital bed.
“Just wanted to say I am OK,” Grosjean said. “Thank you very much for all the messages.”
Hamilton, who secured his title at the Turkish GP on Nov. 15, was subdued and did not celebrate his win after climbing out of his car, other than a fist-pump with drivers.
“It was such a shocking image to
see … horrifying. It could have been so much worse,” he said. “I respect the dangers that are in this sport.”
Moments after the restart about 90 minutes later, on Lap 3 of 57, there was another incident as Lance Stroll clipped Daniil Kvyat and flipped over.
Stroll joked about hanging upside down in his car, before squirming out. The Canadian driver was unharmed.
Kvyat was involved in both crashes but not at fault.
The first accident happened when Grosjean lost grip and slid to the
right, where his back wheel clipped the front of Kvyat’s car and he flew off into the barrier.
Hamilton’s record-extending 95th win beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who took his 41st career podium and a bonus point with the fastest lap.
Racing Point’s Sergio Perez’s engine blew with three laps left, putting Red Bull’s Alexander Albon into third. Valtteri Bottas was only eighth.
There is another race in Bahrain next Sunday before the 17-race season concludes in Abu Dhabi.