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Romain Grosjean describes his struggle for survival in Bahrain for the first time in an interview. The French Formula 1 driver also remembered Niki Lauda during his fire accident. Grosjean thought mostly of his children.
In the middle of the sea of flames, Romain Grosjean tried three times to escape the monohull. Only then could the Geneva-born Haas pilot be able to free himself from the crash. Memories of Niki Lauda’s horrific accident in 1976 had returned to Grosjean as he fought for his life in the fire.
“I saw death coming, I had no choice but to get out of it,” the 34-year-old TF1 in France and partner broadcaster LCI said Tuesday for the first time with impressions of his rescue in dire need.
At 221 km / h, Grosjean crashed into the railing at turn three at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday. 53 g forces would have acted on the pilot when he collided with the guardrail, said his team leader, Günther Steiner. For comparison: in Formula 1 cars, the driver can feel 5 g when cornering. “Even in Hollywood it doesn’t exist,” Grosjean said of the accident.
He only got out of the seat on the third try
Grosjean took nearly 30 seconds to rescue himself from the wreck that had split in two. His visor was all orange, flames all around him, recalled Grosjean, who had to leave his security cell. “I stayed in the flames for 28 seconds, but it seemed like a lot longer as I tried to get up from the seat three times.”
Grosjeans’ visor melted, as described by rescuer Ian Roberts, medical rescue coordinator for Fia, the world automobile association. The father of three was able to unfasten his seat belt himself, the steering wheel must have flown during the impact.
Also in those dramatic moments he thought of Lauda, who was seriously scarred by his accident in the “Green Hell” at the Nürburgring. “I didn’t mean to end like this. I had to go out for my children, ”said Grosjean, who miraculously only burned the back of his hand. “After this accident, I am happy to be alive.”
Grosjean was taken to hospital after the race in Bahrain. A possible discharge was originally assumed on Tuesday. But Grosjean is staying another night in the hospital as a precaution. The healing is going according to plan, said Haas team leader Steiner. “There has been no setback.”
Grosjean wants to ride again at the end of the season
Grosjean will be replaced by Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi (24) in Bahrain’s second race at Sakhir this weekend. He wants to be in the season finale on December 13. “He’s trying to get back in the car in Abu Dhabi,” Steiner said. “That is his goal now.” Grosjean posted a photo of himself with thick bandaged hands on social media Tuesday, but he was doing fitness exercises again.
With the burns on his hands, an operation was not possible this weekend, Steiner said. According to his own statement, he is now “in no rush.” A use of large jeans that the team has to leave at the end of the year “depends on your health. They both want to discuss a comeback on Sunday or Monday.
“Even if that is difficult for my family members, I need to get back into a Formula 1 car to see where I am and if I can keep driving,” Grosjean said.
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