On this day: Grosjean escapes death amid horror Bahrain crash
Today marks exactly three years since Romain Grosjean suffered one of the biggest crashes in modern Formula 1 history. After smashing through the barrier on the opening lap of the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, his Haas car caught fire and after some time amid the flames, Grosjean managed to emerge and live to tell the tale.
On November 29, 2020, Romain Grosjean escaped what was close to being a fatal accident at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The French driver made contact with the AlphaTauri of Daniil Kvyat on the opening lap and broke through the barrier at high speed.
The car was immediately broken in two and erupted into a ball of flames.
After freeing himself from the constraints inside the cockpit, he hoisted himself out of the fire and climbed over the guardrail. Almost immediately afterwards, medics escorted him to the ambulance, after which Grosjean was brought to the hospital.
Miraculously, the former Haas driver suffered few injuries compared to the scale of the crash – all he was left with from the incident were minor burns and a sprained ankle.
Return to the paddock
At the time, F1 was running during the COVID-19 pandemic and F1 would return to the same venue in Skahir one week later, albeit under a new layout.
Grosjean was soon released from the hospital but would never race in F1 again as he was already due to depart Haas at the end of the season. For the final two races of the campaign, he was replaced by Pietro Fittipaldi, Haas’ reserve driver.
He has since taken up a drive in IndyCar scoring six podiums across the last three seasons
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