Haas driver Romain Grosjean has recalled the fiery crash he suffered at the Bahrain Grand Prix, saying he “saw death coming” and describing the incident as “like a rebirth” for him.
Speaking to TF1 and LCI while still in hospital, Grosjean said: “I did not lose consciousness.
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“To get out of the seat, I was able to remove my seat belt, the steering wheel was no longer there, it probably flew off during the impact,” the Frenchman added.
“I saw my visor all orange, the flames around me, and the accident of Niki Lauda came to mind [at the 1976 Austrian GP which almost claimed his life and left him permanently scarred]. I didn’t want to end up like that.
“I had to get out for my children. In the end, my hands were burnt and I have a big sprain, while I thought I had broken my foot.
“I was more afraid for my relatives, my children in the first place, but also my father and my mother. I was not really afraid for myself. I saw death coming, I had no other option but to get out of there.,” Grosjean added.
The Frenchman also stressed the importance of the halo and said the accident is like a “rebirth” for him.
“Without the halo, I would no longer be there. I think Jules [Bianchi] didn’t want me up there. This is like a rebirth for me. I will be marked for life by this accident.
“Even in Hollywood, it does not exist. I spent 28 seconds in the flames but it seemed much longer to me as I tried to get out of the tub three times. After this accident, I’m happy to be alive.
“My little boy Simon, who is five years old, told me that I had a magic power, a magic shield of love that protected me.”
The Haas F1 Team has confirmed that Romain Grosjean will miss this weekend’s Sakhir GP, but the Frenchman is hoping to have one final race in the sport at the season finale at Abu Dhabi:
“I want to finish my story in F1 differently. The Romain Grosjean before would never have said this but, if I do Abu Dhabi, I will be happy even if I finish 20th [laughing].
“Even if it’s complicated for those close to me, it’s a need for me to get back into a Formula 1 car, to see where I am, if I can continue to drive.”
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