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Romain Grosjean was exposed to fire after the crash he suffered at the Bahrain GP for exactly 28s7; however, the time seemed much longer for the driver, who remembered Niki Lauda – who was also the victim of an explosion in 1976 – and revealed that he struggled to get out of the burning car for his children; Sacha, seven, Simon, five and Camille, two.
+ Romain Grosjean suffers a terrible fire after the start of the Bahrain GP
Romain Grosjean Haas GP do Barein F1 2020 – Photo: Motorsport Images
– I don’t know if the word miracle can be used, but in any case, it wasn’t my time. It felt like much more than 28 seconds. My visor turned orange, I saw the flames on the left side of the car. I thought of many things, including Niki Lauda, and I thought it was not possible to end like this, not now. I couldn’t end my story in Formula 1 like this. And then, for my children, I told myself that I had to go. I put my hands on the fire and felt the chassis burn. I felt someone pulling me, so I knew I was out – recalled the French.
Formula 1 – Information accident with Grosjean in Bahrain v3 – Photo: Infoesporte
+ Understand how Romain Grosjean managed to save himself from a terrifying accident
Grosjean still suffered an accident in the first lap of the stage, held last Sunday; After touching the car of Daniil Kvyat of AlphaTauri, the Frenchman from Haas left the track after turn 3 of the circuit and crashed violently against the railing. At the same time, his car burned down and was left in the middle, but the survival cell remained intact.
After the crash, 28 seconds passed before the medical team, who accompanied the cars on the first lap of the race, reached the driver. Without one of his shoes and with help, Grosjean managed to get out of the burning car and received first aid before being sent to the hospital.
Grosjean recalled a serious accident suffered in 1976 by Niki Lauda at the German GP at the Nürburgring – Photo: DPA / PA Images
+ Grosjean’s wife says the pilot’s children “took him out of the fire” after an accident
The Frenchman also revealed that, before being rescued, he felt death up close, but despite the risk of losing his life, he did not fear for him:
– I was more afraid for my family and friends and obviously for my children, who are my greatest source of pride and energy, than for myself. I think there will be some psychological work to be done, because I really saw death coming. Even in Hollywood, pictures like this are possible. It was the biggest accident I have ever seen in my life.
After hospitalization, no fractures or major injuries were found in the pilot; it only burns on his hands and one of his feet and ankles. Hospitalized since Sunday, Grosjean remains under observation mainly to control his lungs, as the Frenchman was exposed to fire for almost 29 seconds.
Romain Grosjean registered during exercise at the hospital after the second day of hospitalization – Photo: Instagram Playback / Romain Grosjean
+ The energy released in an accident destroyed the guardrail, says the FIA race director
Grosjean, who claims to be born again, also revealed that one of his sons called him a “superhero” and believes that his father was protected by a “magic shield of love”, replicating the words spoken by the Frenchman’s wife, the journalist. Marion Grosjean. The Haas driver intends to return to racing this season in Abu Dhabi, but acknowledges: his life changed after the accident.
– There is the feeling of being happy to be alive, to see things differently, but also the need to go back to the car, if possible, in Abu Dhabi, to end my Formula One story in a different way. It was almost like a second birth. Coming out of the flames that day will mark my life forever.
Outside of the next stage of the Formula 1 calendar at the Sakhir GP, the Frenchman will be replaced at Haas by Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi. On Tuesday, Haas confirmed the new owner of one of the vacancies offered by Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen: Russian Nikita Mazepin, current Formula 2 driver.
