Romain Grosjean ‘saw death coming’ in Bahrain crash, wants Abu Dhabi return

Romain Grosjean says it is his aim to return to the F1 cockpit for potentially the final time in the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix despite his horrific fiery crash in Bahrain.

The Frenchman was involved in an enormous accident on lap one of the Bahrain Grand Prix after a crash at 137mph saw his Haas car spear into the barrier at such a ferocity it ripped the chassis into two pieces, pierced the Armco barrier and resulted in a massive fireball.

Despite the impact, which was registered at 53G, and the subsequent inferno, Grosjean remained conscious throughout and was able to extricate himself from the wreckage after 28 seconds with injuries contained to burns on the back of his hands.

Currently in hospital in Manama, where he has been updating fans with social media updates, he has since given an interview with France TF1 broadcaster, detailing the moment of the crash and the emotion he has felt from the outpouring of support and well-wishing he has received globally.

“To come out of the flames that day is something that will mark my life forever. I have a lot of people who have shown me love and it has touched me a lot, and at times I get a bit teary-eyed."

"I don't know if the word miracle exists or if it can be used, but in any case I would say it wasn't my time. It felt much longer than 28 seconds. I see my visor turning all orange, I see the flames on the left side of the car.

"I thought about a lot of things, including Niki Lauda, and I thought that it wasn't possible to end up like that, not now. I couldn't finish my story in Formula 1 like that.

"And then, for my children, I told myself that I had to get out. I put my hands in the fire, so I clearly felt it burning on the chassis. I got out, then I felt someone pulling on the suit, so I knew I was out."

Romain Grosjean to return for F1 swansong?

The accident came ahead of what could be Grosjean’s final races in F1 having had his exit from Haas confirmed last month. The American team today confirmed Nikita Mazepin would take one of the seats for 2021, with Mick Schumacher tipped to be named as his team-mate.

Despite this, Grosjean says he is determined to let this accident mark his potential exit from a series after 179 grand prix starts in an F1 career stretching back to 2009. 

"I would say there is a feeling of being happy to be alive, of seeing things differently, but also there is the need to get back in the car, if possible in Abu Dhabi. [I want]to finish my story with Formula 1 in a different way.”

Grosjean will miss this weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix, with Pietro Fittipaldi - son of double F1 World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi - making his F1 debut in his place.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Romain Grosjean (@grosjeanromain)