Lewis Hamilton’s victory in 95. Formula 1 overshadowed by dramatic accident – VG

Lewis Hamilton has long decided the outright winner in this year’s Formula 1 championship, but that doesn’t mean the last few races are any less dramatic.

And it became more than chaotic at the opening of the race under the spotlight in Bahrain.

French Haas driver Romain Grosjean was involved in a nasty accident already after the first few corners, in what looked like an explosion around the Frenchman’s car.

The flames were several feet in the air around the car, and replay showed Grosjean’s car split in two in the accident. One part, the cabin, came through the railing. The 34-year-old man got out of the car at the last minute and had to throw himself over the railing, away from the burning car accident.

– This is the worst I’ve ever seen. I think it’s the worst explosion I’ve seen in Formula 1, says V Sport commentator Atle Gulbrandsen.

Haas’s team writes on Twitter that the 34-year-old has some minor burns to his hands and ankles, but is otherwise fine.

– He’s obviously shaking. I have to thank the rescuers who responded very quickly. They did a great job. It was a terrifying situation, he says. Haas boss Günther Steiner.

– I had never seen so many flames, so I needed a moment to assimilate everything when we got to the accident. So Romain has already started getting out of the car on his own, which is incredibly done in such an accident, says ambulance driver Alan van der Merwe on the television broadcast.

Before the accident, it was world champion Lewis Hamilton who had had the best start in the race, while his teammate Valtteri Bottas had a terrible start. The Finn had already lost several positions when he crashed behind him.

As the race restarted, Racing Point driver Lance Stroll collided with Danil Kvyat, the same man involved in Grosjean’s accident, and Stroll’s pink car went off the road and landed on the roof.

– I’m fine, but hanging upside down, Stroll could immediately announce the team radio, before he crawled out of the accident.

And after that car was also taken off the track, Lewis Hamilton was able to insert the mercy punch, and the hatch up to Max Verstappen just got bigger and bigger. A few laps before the end, the Red Bull driver also made a tactical pit stop. He was unsuccessful and Hamilton claimed his 95th victory in Formula 1. It is a record.

But after the race, it was more important for the British to reflect on how dangerous their sport really is, than to cheer for another win.

– It was shocking to see. When I get in the car, I always know that I’m taking a risk and I respect how dangerous this sport is, but it was shocking. I am very thankful that the halo (the ring on my head) worked. It could have been a lot worse. It’s a reminder that this is a life-threatening sport, and one must respect it, says Hamilton of Grosjean’s accident.

Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll’s Mexican Racing Point teammate, had a long way to go to take a strong place on the podium. Four laps before the finish, however, he had trouble with the engine and suddenly flames erupted behind the car.

Then the race was broken for both Racing Point drivers, with Alex Albon taking third place.

Perez’s flames and Stroll’s accident were less dramatic than Grosjean’s earlier in the day.

It made the V Sport commentators think.

– We have to say that someone reached out to Grosjean today, Stein Pettersen said.

– That you can survive such an accident, you have to thank everyone who has worked with safety in Formula 1. I would hardly think it was possible, say the commentators.