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Romain Grosjean says he “saw death coming” in his fierce accident at the Bahrain Grand Prix and fought to get out “for his children.”
The French Haas driver suffered burns to the back of his hands after crashing at 137 mph and suffering a 53G impact on the opening lap of Sunday’s race.
Grosjean will stay in Manama hospital for one more night on Tuesday.
“I would say that there is a feeling of being happy to be alive, to see things differently,” he said.
Speaking to France’s TF1, he added: “But there is also a need to get back in the car, if possible in Abu Dhabi.”
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the last race of the 2020 season, December 13-15, after a second race in Bahrain on a different track this weekend.
Grosjean said he wanted to race at Yas Marina “to end my story with Formula 1 in a different way.”
He doesn’t have momentum for next season, after Haas decided to change his lineup and recruit two new drivers who come with financial backing for 2021. Russian Nikita Mazepin announced on Tuesday and is expected to confirm Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time champion Michael, on Wednesday.
Team boss Gunther Steiner said Tuesday that he had spoken to Grosjean about his intention to return for the last race and that there was “a long time” before a decision had to be made.
“He really wants to be in Abi Dhabi,” Steiner said. “But I told him: ‘Try to improve, we talk on Sunday or Monday, let’s say, how you feel, if possible.’
He is being replaced at this weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix by Brazilian rookie Pietro Fittipaldi, grandson of two-time F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi.
Grosjean described his escape from the crash, in which he spent nearly 30 seconds in hell, as “almost like a second birth.”
He said: “Coming out of the flames that day is something that will mark my life forever.
“I have many people who have shown me love and that has touched me a lot, and sometimes my eyes fill with tears.”
He described his experiences immediately after the accident, as he was in the cockpit of the burning car, which had been broken in two and lodged in a barrier.
“I do not know if the word miracle exists or if it can be used, but in any case I would say that it was not my time [to die]”said the 34-year-old.
“It felt much longer than 28 seconds. I see my visor turn orange, I see the flames on the left side of the car.
“I thought about many things, including Niki Lauda, and I thought it was not possible to end like this, not now. I could not end my story in Formula 1 like this.
“And then for my kids, I told myself that I had to get out. I put my hands in the fire, so I clearly felt it burn in the chassis.
“I went out, then I felt someone put the suit on, so I knew I was out.”
Grosjean was helped across the barrier by FIA doctor Ian Roberts, who came to his aid along with medical driver Alan van der Merwe.
Doctors initially intended to release Grosjean from the hospital on Monday, but Steiner said there was no reason to be concerned about his extended stay.
“He will be staying another night in the hospital, but there is nothing to worry about,” he said.
“They just said it’s a safer environment, mainly because of the burns. They just said we’ll keep you here another night. But all is well.
“This guy he has with him told me that the doctors are very happy and that everything is going as they would have seen it coming, so there are no setbacks or anything.”
Steiner added that he had also spoken to Grosjean about the accident.
“Remember how he wanted out, or how it came out, he explained it to me very well,” Steiner said.
“What he asked me was, ‘How did I end up there?’ I told him, ‘He ran over (Alpha Tauri driver Daniil) Kvyat, basically he turned right and ran over his front wheel, and that turned him around and put him against the wall.
“He said, ‘I didn’t see the car.’ I do not want to put words in his mouth and say that he does not remember, I think he did not realize what he did.
“I wouldn’t say he lost the memory. I think it was so fast that he can’t remember.”
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