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High-speed Formula One crashes are part of the course, but even the most die-hard motorsport fans would have feared the worst after seeing Romain Grosjean crash during yesterday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
The 34-year-old Frenchman ran off the track on the first lap of the race, his car split in two and caught fire.
According to an FIA spokesperson, Sky News reports, the impact of the Grosjean crash was measured at 53G:
Replays showed the driver jumping over barriers and backing away from the burning wreckage of his car before being assisted to a waiting ambulance.
The accident was triggered when Grosjean swerved in front of Daniil Kvyat and came into contact with his AlphaTauri.
The official F1 channel has created this video, showing the accident and the aftermath from various angles, but you will have to click ‘View this video on YouTube’ below to be redirected:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ7_En2xEm4
Here is another compilation of videos, showing the moment of the accident and the quick rescue actions that followed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSxGxecQ8As
Grosjean escaped with second-degree burns to his hands and relatively minor injuries (we’ll hear about that in a moment), which is testament to the increase in security measures implemented in recent years.
This from The Guardian:
… his head was protected by the halo cockpit protection device that the FIA made mandatory in 2018 …
Ross Brawn, F1’s director of motorsports, was unequivocal that the halo, which had been criticized when it was first imposed, had been instrumental in saving Grosjean’s life. “The positive was the safety of the car and that’s what got us through today,” Brawn said. “The breach of the barrier was a problem many years ago and usually resulted in a fatality; there is no doubt that the halo saved the day. The team behind it deserves credit for doing it. After today no one can doubt the validity of that, it was a lifesaver. “
The video below takes a closer look at how the halo works. Again, you will have to be redirected:
Fortunately, Grosjean was also well enough to record a video, posted on his Instagram account:
You can see his full Instagram post below:
While the halo certainly earned its stripes, it wasn’t the only factor that played a role in Grosjean’s survival.
His fire retardant suit, as well as the cockpit survival cell, turned out to be important, and then there were the swift actions of those who arrived on the scene first.
One of the first to arrive was South African racing driver Alan van der Merwe, who currently drives the Formula One medical car, often referred to as the fastest ambulance in the world.
During the first lap of each race, van der Merwe and Dr. Ian Roberts drive behind the field, with crashes and incidents often occurring shortly after the race begins.
It was highlighted by the Haas F1 team, for which Grosjean drives:
Thanks to the Medical Car driver Alan van der Merwe, the circuit medical team and the bailiffs for their quick thinking and actions to get to Romain so soon after the accident 🙏 pic.twitter.com/hkUChcweeq
– Haas F1 Team (@ HaasF1Team) November 29, 2020
More on van der Merwe via The Sportsrush:
van der Merve is a British Formula 3 and Formula Ford Festival champion and has been a test driver for the BAR-Honda test driver team. He also raced in the A1 series for South Africa, finishing seventh in New Zealand.
After saving Romain Grosjean’s life, he was asked about his reactions. He seemed surprised, despite the incredibly difficult task he has undertaken for more than a decade.
“It was a huge surprise. He had never seen so much fire in 12 years. Romain got out of the car himself, which is quite surprising after an accident like that. All the systems that we have worked to develop, everything has worked hand in hand. : the halo, the barriers, the seat belt. It all worked. Without just one of those things working, it could have been a very different result. “
Fortunately, the worst case scenario was avoided.
The fact that Lewis Hamilton won, again, was relegated to secondary billing, but his dominance this year is something to behold.
He leads the drivers’ standings with 332 points, with fellow Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas in second place with 201 points.
[sources:skynews&guardian&sportsrush]
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