Formula One driver Romain Grosjean says he has had a change of heart about recently introduced safety technology after it saved his life in a horror crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Key points:
- Romain Grosjean suffered only burns to his hands in a shocking crash at the Bahrain GP
- The halo safety mechanism was made mandatory in F1 cars in 2018, and at the time some drivers were unconvinced
- Grosjean says he now thinks the halo is ‘the greatest thing’, and also thanked the medical staff who attended to him
The 34-year-old’s car was cut in two and exploded in a fireball after ploughing through a steel crash barrier on the opening lap of the race.
Grosjean climbed out of the burning wreck and back onto the track and was flown to a nearby military hospital, where he was treated for burns to his hands.
Hours after the accident, Grosjean’s Haas team posted a video of the Frenchman speaking from his hospital bed, with his hands bandaged.
Grosjean admitted he had not been a supporter of the new “halo” technology which was made mandatory in 2018.
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The system, designed to protect drivers, includes a curved titanium bar to safeguard the head in crashes.
“Just wanted to say I am OK — well, sort of OK,” a smiling Grosjean said. “Thank you very much for all the messages.
“I wasn’t for the halo some years ago, but [now] I think it’s the greatest thing that we’ve had in Formula One and without it I wouldn’t be able to speak to you today.
“So, thanks to all the medical staff … hopefully I can write to you quite soon some messages and tell you how it’s going”.
Grosjean had veered to his right to avoid another driver crashing, then clipped the wheel of Daniil Kyvat’s car before spearing into the barrier.
The impact cut his car in two, with the back half flying off to the side but Grosjean still inside the front half.
Footage appeared to show a halo-shaped hole in the crash barrier.
More to come.
