There will no doubt be an in-depth investigation into Romain Grosjean’s huge crash on the first lap of the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, but initial analysis of the crash reveals that the Frenchman suffered a 56G impact which resulted in the front of the car smashing through the three-tier steel barriers, turning as it did so.
The rear of the chassis was ripped off behind the survival cell, where the fuel tank is located and the fuel was sprayed out and ignited. The halo protecting the driver appears to have cut through the steel of the barrier, but in doing so it protected the driver. The front of the chassis just in front of the cockpit appears to have broken in the impact but again it the job of protecting the driver.
I’m so grateful Romain is safe. Wow… the risk we take is no joke, for those of you out there that forget that we put our life on the line for this sport and for what we love to do. Thankful to the FIA for the massive strides we’ve taken for Romain to walk away from that safely https://t.co/dG8AXmsbKN
The last time there was a crash involving fire in F1 was in 1989 at Imola when Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger crashed at he old Tamburello corner, although Allan McNish’s Toyota broke through the barriers in Suzuka in 2002, although the Scotsman emerged unhurt.
Grosjean was able to get himself out of the fire and then climbed over the barriers and was met by FIA Medical Delegate Ian Roberts, who was chasing the field.
Grosjean has been taken to the local hospital and is reported to have some minor burns and possible broken ribs in the crash.
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