Romain Grosjean reports from hospital after terrible accident

The footage recalled Niki Lauda’s accident at the Nurburgring and raised fears of the worst. But Romain Grosjean survived one of the most violent Formula 1 crashes in recent years, probably thanks in part to the protection of the Halo cockpit. He might even come back next week.

“Hi everyone, I just wanted to say: I’m fine. At least under the circumstances,” Grosjean said in a video message on his Instagram channel.

The Frenchman had himself filmed, both hands were bandaged. “Thanks for all the messages from you. A few years ago I was not about Halo. Today I think it was the best news in the history of Formula One. Without Halo, I could not talk to you now.” Thank you all, thank you to the medical assistants. I look forward to personally texting you again soon. “

As if by miracle, Romain Grosjean was independently saved from the burning wreckage that had once been his racing car. The Frenchman’s Haas Ferrari snapped in two, the chassis jammed on the rail and a front wheel rolled into the desert landscape of Sakhir. The incredible thing: Grosjean himself remained relatively well protected in the monohull and came out with minor injuries and a great scare.

“Of course, he was very shaky and his visor was completely melted,” Formula 1 doctor Ian Roberts said.

In the first round of Bahrain Grand Prix what happened. While pole-setting Lewis Hamilton, who later won the race, drifted away to the front of the field, the rear end was wild and confusing. Grosjean, starting from 19th, dared to perform an overtaking maneuver after a few corners, pulled hard to the right and probably missed Daniil Kwjat’s AlphaTauri. The wheels of the racing cars touched each other, after that Grosjean was just a passenger and he shot himself against the railing.

With the help of sheriffs, the 34-year-old man left the scene of the accident fire, visibly stunned, and was taken by helicopter to a hospital, where he spent the night. He only suffered burns to the back of his hands and was spared fractures, his racing team announced Sunday night.

“He is very scared,” said team boss Günther Steiner, “but he only has minor burns where there are gaps in the fireproof clothing. That was luck in the accident, but also a great effort from the stewards, who were there immediately. “. After Grosjeans was rescued, track workers carried out extensive repair work so that the 15th race of the season could continue.

The Formula 1 entourage was in shock despite the first punt. Record world champion Hamilton looked in his Mercedes garage at images of the horrific accident, which inevitably brought back memories of Niki Lauda’s 1976 fiery accident at the Nürburgring, and shook his head in dismay.