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By AFP 
8h ago
SAKHIR – A victorious Lewis Hamilton kept his composure and then praised Formula One’s safety systems on Sunday after Romain Grosjean escaped a terrifying fireball after a crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The newly crowned seven-time champion achieved his 11th victory this year in his Mercedes with masterful driving in challenging and chaotic circumstances.
But after securing a 95th career win ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen during a late intervention in the safety car, he was quick to praise the sport’s modern safety standards for saving the Frenchman whose Haas car broke down in two on impact before bursting into flames.
“It was such a shocking image to watch,” said Hamilton, who, like all drivers, had a nearly 90-minute wait for the restart after the horrific first-lap accident. He used the pause to tweet about safety.
“When I get in the car, I know I’m taking risks. I respect the dangers in this sport. I posted about it during halftime because it’s horrible.
We are very grateful that Romain Grosjean was able to steer clear of this. We didn’t need a reminder of the bravery and brilliance of our drivers, quarterbacks and medical teams, or the safety advances in our sport, but we really got it today.#BahrainGP 🇧🇭 # F1 pic.twitter.com/z8OeTU5Nem
– Formula 1 (@ F1) November 29, 2020
“The car, the cockpit. I don’t know what Gs he got out, but I’m very thankful that the halo worked.
“It could have been a lot worse, but I think it’s a reminder for us and hopefully for people who are watching that this is a dangerous sport. We are out there pushing the limit and playing to that limit, but you always have to. respect it.
“It shows the incredible work that Formula One and the FIA have done to get him away from something like this, but it will be investigated, and they will do a great job to make sure that something like this works.” it will not happen again. “
Grosjean lost control of his Haas after cutting off the left front wheel of Daniil Kvyat’s Alpha Tauri, having leaned to the right in the intense battle positions at turn three on the first lap.
Grosjean’s car collided with the barriers when braking hard from about 250 km / h (155 mph), the front end hitting the steel railings that immediately bent.
Dr. Ian Roberts and Alan van der Merwe joined us to discuss Romain Grosjean’s miraculous escape and his actions upon arrival on the scene.# SkyF1 | # F1 | #BahrainGP 🇧🇭 pic.twitter.com/1iWKyUTEmK
– Sky Sports F1 (@ SkySportsF1) November 29, 2020
Grosjean, 34, trapped in his cabin, flew under the yielded steel barrier and his car exploded in flames.
Observers suggested that the safety halo on his car had saved his life as he passed through the broken barrier, the device lifting them above his head, before F1 medical director Dr. Ian Roberts and his Medical car driver Alan van der Merwe joined the track officers with fire extinguishers and helped him escape.
‘It was frightening’
Grosjean broke free from his burning ruin and clambered through the flames to jump a barrier and to safety with the help of Roberts.
“It was terrifying,” Verstappen said. “We saw a red flag, which doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing right away. I saw a lot of fire and I thought that wasn’t good, but luckily he’s okay.”
Frenchman Grosjean was taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs and burns to his hands and feet after his accident, which was followed by another accident in which Racing Point driver Lance Stroll was rescued from his overturned car.
That Grosjean accident was horrible. Thank goodness for the flame retardant driver suits. pic.twitter.com/ZisjhnUEmm
– VT (@VusiThembekwayo) November 29, 2020
Hamilton came home at a controlled pace behind the safety car at the end, followed by Verstappen and his Red Bull teammate Alex Albon, who benefited after an engine failure forced Racing Point’s Sergio Perez to retire. with three laps to go.
Lando Norris came home fourth ahead of his McLaren teammate Carlos Sainz, with Pierre Gasly in sixth place by Alpha Tauri and Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo seventh.
Valtteri Bottas, Hamilton’s teammate at Mercedes, finished eighth after suffering a puncture, ahead of Esteban Ocon in the second Renault and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari.
Hamilton’s victory took him 131 points ahead of Bottas in the championship, which he has already won.
Gasly said he had texted compatriot Grosjean after the race.
“It was horrible, when I saw the images I was shocked. It was really scary, but I had no idea that an F1 car could break that way. The halo really proved to be working. I texted him to wish him a good recovery.” . . I think it’s okay, but (it was) something really scary. “
AFP
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