Romain Grosjean accident: "He saw death too closely", laments his psychologist

His voice, marked, betrays his emotion.

Since 2012, Meriem Salmi has been Romain Grosjean's psychologist.

The one who accompanies many athletes, including Teddy Riner, was able to quickly discuss with the French driver of the Haas team, victim of an impressive accident from which he emerged almost unscathed on Sunday during the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix. the work she will carry out with the athlete to evacuate the trauma caused by the shock and the fire of the vehicle.

You were able to speak with Romain Grosjean.

How did you find him?

MERIEM SALMI.

For the moment, he is fine, he is not in too much physical pain.

His burns, it is not much compared to what he went through ... He comes back so far.

It's a traumatic episode, it will have to be treated.

I think especially of the after.

All observers praised the strength he had shown just after the accident ...

You are in a burning car, you have just taken a terrible shock, and you are still conscious.

He takes a 53 G impact on the head

, but he was able to keep his cool, he knew what to do.

It is an extraordinary cognitive performance.

We all have a survival instinct, but not all of us know how to exploit it that way.

He was able to re-mobilize in an extremely dangerous situation without panicking and being very quick.

He didn't have three hours to react.

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VIDEO.

Romain Grosjean after his F1 accident: "Without the halo, I wouldn't be here to talk to you"

What are you going to work on with him now?

We have to debrief everything that has happened to be able to evacuate the traumatic and emotional load.

He saw death very closely, too closely.

Romain is a brilliant person, he understands quickly and he is courageous.

I know how it works, even though this situation is particularly traumatic and unprecedented.

He already wants to leave but, obviously, he is lucid, he knows that it is complicated to race now in his condition but, in his mind, he would be ready to drive next weekend.

What does this support go through?

We will work via Skype, which is what we normally do.

He can overcome this event.

I didn't say it will be easy, but he has the weapons and he's going to do the right thing, I know him.