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The Frenchman pressed against the railings of his car for 27 seconds. It is thanks to various security systems that he was almost unharmed.
Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean was very lucky at the Bahrain GP. After an accident, his car was burned in flames and he was able to get out of the accident on his own.
Video: SRF
If you saw the images, you will not soon forget them. The car: split in two. The driver’s cab: crammed into the rails. And around him: a huge ball of fire. Romain Grosjean was trapped in the flames for 27 seconds before he could break free and leapt out of the fire almost unharmed.
The 34-year-old was very lucky this Sunday. But not only. Formula 1 has continued to develop its safety systems in recent years. And the Bahrain GP proved: They work.
The halo
When it was introduced in 2018, there was opposition from many quarters. Cars would now look like sandals. Niki Lauda reported: “For me it is a step backwards.” And Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff also said: “Give me a chainsaw and I’ll take it off.” Not only since yesterday everyone has been happy that Formula 1 cars have this «gloriole» characteristic. Because one thing is clear: he saved Grosjean’s life.
Without Halo, Grosjean’s head would have been pressed against the protective barriers.
Photo: Screenshot from Youtube / The Race
The Franco-Swiss himself was a adversary des Hello. Reports from the hospital bed it is: «I was not in favor of Halo a few years ago. But i think it is secondthis what was never brought to Formula 1. ORWithout him, I couldn’t talk to you now.“According to his racing team, he will be able to leave the hospital on Tuesday.
His life preserver weighs around seven kilograms. Tensioned in a ring above the driver’s head in the cockpit and held in the middle with a strut, it is intended to protect the driver from flying parts.
According to FIA regulations, the titanium bar must support the weight of two African elephants (ie about twelve tons for two males). And grab a suitcase that shoots up at 225 km / h.
The halo was introduced to Formula 1 after Jules Bianchi suffered serious head injuries and succumbed to death at the 2014 Japanese GP colliding with a recovery vehicle. A French journalist is said to have received a message from Bianchi’s mother during the race in Bahrain: “What caused my son’s death has now saved his friend Romain.” Probably also because pilots have to demonstrate in constant training that they can leave the cockpit independently in seven seconds despite the Halo.
Das monocoque
Not much remains of the car, but the driver’s cab is still intact.
Photo: screenshot
Although his car was broken in two, the driver’s cabin remained intact. It’s called a “survival cell.” She lived up to her name on Sunday. Manufactured from a carbon fiber composite, it is characterized by high rigidity and resistance with little weight.
During the crash test, the monocoque is loaded with 20 tons from the front and 25 tons from the side. The roll bar must support a weight of 27 tons. Former world champion Nico Rosberg once said, “It’s our bulletproof vest.”
The flame retardant racing suit
Many of Formula 1’s safety measures are designed to prevent such fire accidents from happening in the first place. But because Grosjean’s car broke in two on impact, the tank’s bladder was exposed. Because the battery, which is under high voltage, is also located in the back, the fireball probably started.
Grosjean was on fire for 27 seconds – his racing suit protected him from the enormous heat.
Photo: Dan Istitene (Getty Images)
What protected Grosjean from more burns is his racing suit. It consists of a material called Nomex, which protects the conductor from temperatures of around 800 degrees for 35 seconds. But not only the jumpsuit: shoes, underwear, gloves and masks are also made of special synthetic fibers. Only before the start of this season was it introduced that suits must have an additional layer of fire resistant material.
The fact that Grosjean suffered burns to his foot was due to the fact that he took off a shoe when he left.
Der Medical-Car
They jumped out of their car with the flashing lights: former racing driver Alan van der Merwe and racing doctor Ian Roberts. Merwe opened the extinguisher and plunged into the flames. Despite the scorching heat, Roberts walked over to the fire and helped Grosjean past the railings. Sheriffs had to back up when the car crashed and only rushed to help later.
Thanks also to the medical car, Grosjean was rescued and, above all, treated so quickly. Günther Steiner, Grosjeans Haas team boss, thanked Racing Doctor Roberts for his commitment. And Merwe said: “In twelve years of Formula 1, I have not seen such a big fire and accident like this. It took me a moment to understand what was happening. ”
The medical car always follows the Formula 1 racing field on the first lap because the possibility of an accident is particularly high. Its interns had a very special mission on Sunday.
Marshals and the career medic helped Grosjean past the railings and away from the fire.
Photo: Screenshot / Twitter
