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Romain Grosjean on his Formula 1 accident: "I saw death coming"

2020-12-02T02:54:38.178Z


His car was torn in two and went up in flames. And yet Romain Grosjean got away with minor injuries. Now he has spoken about the seconds after the crash.


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On fire: Grosjean's Formula 1 car

Photo: Andy Hone / imago images / Motorsport Images

Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean spoke for the first time about his fire accident in Bahrain and described dramatic scenes in the cockpit.

The Haas pilot described the French TV stations TF1 and LCI that he had tried three times to escape from the car wreck that was in flames, until he was finally able to free himself.

"I'm happy to be alive after this accident," he said.

During the race on Sunday, the Frenchman's bolide crashed into the barrier after touching Daniil Kvyat's AlphaTauri, the car was torn in two and immediately went up in flames.

The front of the car broke through the guardrail.

It took Grosjean almost 30 seconds to escape from the wreck.

His visor was all orange, the flames around him, remembered Grosjean, who had to get out of his security cell.

"I stayed in the flames for 28 seconds, but that seemed a lot longer while trying to get out of the seat three times."

"I was most afraid for my loved ones"

Grosjeans visor melted, as said first rescuer Ian Roberts, medical rescue coordinator for the world automobile association Fia.

The father of three children was able to loosen his seat belt himself, the steering wheel must have blown away during the impact.

In those moments he also thought of Niki Lauda and his fire accident in 1976. “I didn't want to end like this.

I had to come out for my children, ”said Grosjean, who was only burned on the back of his hand.

The suspicion of a broken rib and broken two toes was not confirmed.

He owes this to the safety standards in his car and the fireproof clothing - read more here.

“After this accident I am happy to be alive,” Grosjean continued: “I was most afraid for my relatives, for my children in the first place, but also for my father and mother, I really wasn't afraid for me.

I saw death coming, I had no other option but to get out of there, ”said Grosjean, who will probably be in the hospital for the next night.

The healing is going as planned, Haas team boss Günther Steiner said at a video conference on Tuesday afternoon.

"There has been no setback." Originally, a possible discharge on Tuesday was assumed.

Grosjean will miss the next race, but after that he could be back in the car and compete in the last race of the season.

"Even if that is difficult for my relatives, it is necessary for me to get back into a Formula 1 car to see where I am and whether I can continue driving," said Grosjean.

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mon / dpa / sid

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2020-12-02

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