Romain Grosjean miraculously survived a huge crash on the opening lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix when his car hit the wall and burst into flames.
Frenchman Grosjean (34) veered off the track after just three corners, hitting the barriers with an impact registering at 53G.
The sport held its breath as the TV cameras cut away from the flashpoint and the race was immediately stopped.
And his escape to safety#BahrainGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/4NJ22yVAPK
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 29, 2020
But Grosjean’s Haas team reported that the driver was out of the cockpit.
He was then pictured sitting in the medical car before gingerly heading towards a stretcher.
A replay then showed Grosjean frantically leaping out of his fireball inferno with the aid of a medical doctor.
LAP 1/57
Romain Grosjean, who collided with the barriers, is up and out of his car and is being attended to by medical staff ?#BahrainGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/mUvH9S5pM2
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 29, 2020
It emerged that his car sliced in half on impact, with one part of the car going through the other side of the barrier.
A Haas spokesperson said: “Romain has minor burns on his hands and ankles but otherwise he is OK. He is with the doctors now.”
