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Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean told Sky he was “at peace” with death during the 28 seconds he was trapped in his burning car following a terrible accident at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The 34-year-old Frenchman miraculously escaped with minor burns after his Haas car was cut in half by a safety barrier and burst into flames during last Sunday’s race.
He said thinking about his children, and also what happened to F1 legend Niki Lauda, gave him the strength to finally escape.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, he described the moment he realized his car was on fire after hitting barriers at around 137 mph (220 km / h).
Grosjean photographed in his hospital bed with wounds on his hands
The accident happened at the Bahrain GP
Grosjean told Sky F1’s Martin Brundle: “The first thing I did was unbuckle my seat belt, try to remove the wheel, which was gone, at least one less concern” and then try to jump.
“I hit something on the top of my helmet, so I sat up and thought I must be face down against the barrier, so I’ll wait until they come to help me.
“I looked to my right, I looked to my left, and everything was orange. That’s weird, I thought … Then I realized it was fire. So I knew I didn’t have time until they came.”
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Moment F1 driver escapes from hell
The car was cut in half by the high-speed collision with a barrier.
However, despite repeated efforts, Grosjean said he could not find a way out of the car.
He considered giving up, but then he thought of Niki Lauda, who suffered severe burns while trapped in his car at Germany’s Nurburgring in 1976.
“I said, ‘I can’t finish like Niki, I can’t finish like this. It can’t be my last race.’
However, he still couldn’t find a way out.
He added: “So I tried again, I’m stuck … I was almost at peace with myself, thinking, I’m dead. I’m going to die.
Grosjean said he thought of Niki Lauda when he was trapped
Lauda almost died at the German GP in 1976
“And then, I don’t know if that moment allowed me to recover a little, try to think of another solution, but I thought of my children. [Grosjean has three] and I said no.
“I cannot die today. For my children, I cannot die today.
“Then I start to turn my head, go up and turn my body. It worked.”
Describing the moment he broke free, he said, “I jump over the barrier, then I feel Ian [Roberts, FIA medical delegate] that makes me monkey and it’s an extraordinary feeling.
“When he throws me, I know there is someone with me. I am alive.”
The first responders to Grosjean said they knew immediately that the Frenchman had miraculously prevented a serious injury. They later took him to the medical center.
He spent three nights in the Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF) hospital after the accident, but has now left.
He will remain in the country to continue private treatment for his burns.
The full interview will air during Sunday’s preparation for the Sakhir GP, starting at 3.30pm on Sky Sports F1.
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