Haas F1 driver Grosjean defies death in fiery Bahrain crash
LEWIS HAMILTON celebrated his seventh world championship by winning a Bahrain Grand Prix that will be remembered for Romain Grosjean’s remarkable escape from a fireball inferno.
Grosjean (34) scrambled to get out of his burning car for almost half a minute before eventually leaping away and into the arms of Formula One doctor Ian Roberts.
On the opening lap, Grosjean moved to his right at the third corner, before hitting the front-left wheel of Daniil Kvyat’s AlphaTauri, and penetrating the steel barrier at 140mph. The force of the impact, which registered at 53G, split his machine in two.
Grosjean’s cockpit instantly burst into flames, and the sport held its breath as television cameras cut hastily away from the extraordinary accident and the race was immediately stopped.
Limping
After a number of minutes, Grosjean’s Haas team mercifully reported that their driver was out of the cockpit. He was then pictured sitting in the medical car before limping towards an ambulance.
He had leapt out of his burning machine with his racing boot missing from his left foot.
Grosjean was airlifted to the BDF Military Hospital, 10 miles north of the Bahrain International Circuit, with burns to his hands and ankles and suspected broken ribs.
It is also understood he might have broken a bone in his foot following one of the biggest accidents in Formula One’s recent memory.
“It is a miracle he is alive,” said 1996 world champion Damon Hill, whose Williams team-mate Ayrton Senna perished at the San Marino Grand Prix 26 years ago.
The race started again following a 90-minute stoppage, but there was further drama after just eight corners when Lance Stroll was flipped upside down.
Hamilton completed two regulation stops for new tyres and comfortably kept Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who finished second, at bay.