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It was only the first Advent, but Formula 1 already experienced a Christmas miracle yesterday: Romain Grosjean crashed into a guardrail at over 200 kilometers per hour at the Bahrain Grand Prix shortly after the start, wrecking his Haas car in two parts, which immediately went up into a giant fireball. The Frenchman was in the middle of the flames and after 26 seconds, as revealed by television analyzes, he was able to break free from the cockpit and escape from hell over the railing. As if by miracle, the 34-year-old was saved from serious injuries. Broken ribs and burns to his hands and feet were suspected (he had lost his left shoe when he was released from the cabin) when Grosjean was taken to hospital in Manama in the final third race of the season.
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Photo gallery: serious accident overshadowed Formula 1 racing in Bahrain
Image: AFP
The first at the scene of the accident.
First, the medical car following the field on the exit lap was only seconds after the impact at the crash site. Race Doctor Ian Roberts helped Grosjean jump over the railing. “We needed a moment to understand what was happening,” said medical car driver Alan van der Merwe, who immediately took the fire extinguisher. The first moments had seemed like an eternity. A fire accident of this size was reminiscent of days spent in Formula 1. “I hadn’t seen anything like it in twelve years,” said 40-year-old Van der Merwe. The South African was relieved when Grosjean suddenly appeared in the middle of the fireball: “It was like a relief when he came out and he was fine,” Van der Merwe said. Haas team boss Günther Steiner insisted on personally thanking the pit crew for their work in front of the cameras: “You did a great job!”
Lewis Hamilton’s 95th win
The fact that old and new world champion Lewis Hamilton got his 95th win ahead of Max Verstappen and Alex Albon’s Red Bulls became a side note. “The Romain accident was really shocking,” Hamilton said. “It reminds us how dangerous this sport is.” At the same time, the Briton praised the actions of the race management, as well as the security measures of the FIA: “Without the halo system (headband for head protection; note) Romain would probably no longer be alive.”
