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Romain Grosjean speaks out for first time after horror crash at Bahrain Grand Prix


Haas star Romain Grosjean posted an update from his hospital bed after the crash (Picture: Instagram/@grosjeanromain)

Romain Grosjean has thanked Formula 1 fans for their messages of support following his horrifying high-speed crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix and claims the halo cockpit protection device in his car saved his life.

The 34-year-old clipped the front wing of Daniil Kyvat’s Alpha Tauri which caused him to smash into the wall on the exit of Turn Three in the opening lap of Sunday’s spectacle.

Grosjean’s Haas split in two on impact with the barrier before bursting into flames but the Frenchman emerged from the wreckage and was taken to the Bahrain Defence Force Hospital in an ambulance with only minor burns to his hands and ankles.

Grosjean suffered minor burns to his hands and ankles in the crash (Picture: Getty)

Scans showed Grosjean had sustained no major injury to his ribs as his team initially feared and the veteran driver – a former sceptic of the halo crash-protection system which was introduced to F1 in 2018 – posted an upbeat message on his Instagram page from his hospital bed.

‘Hello everyone, just wanted to say I am okay… well sort of okay!’ he said.

‘Thank you very much for all the messages.

‘I wasn’t for the halo some years ago, but I think it’s the greatest thing that we’ve brought to Formula 1, and without it I wouldn’t be able to speak with you today.

‘So thanks to all the medical staff at the circuit and at the hospital.

‘Hopefully I can write to you quite soon some messages and tell you how it’s going.’

The halo device came into being in the aftermath of Jules Bianchi’s death at the Japanese Grand Prix back in 2015.

It received a signifcant backlash at the time given the protective lid contradicted the sport’s long-held traditions of open cockpit racing.

But newly-crowned seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton – who claimed his 11th victory of the season in Sunday’s race – joined Grosjean in hailing the crash-protection system.

‘It was such a shocking image to see,’ the Mercedes star said.

‘When I get in the car I know that I’m taking risks and I respect the dangers that are in this sport. It’s horrifying.

‘I don’t know what Gs [forces] he pulled but I’m so grateful that the halo worked.

‘I’m grateful that the barrier didn’t slice his head up or something like that. It could have been so much worse.

‘But it’s a reminder to us and hopefully the people that are watching that this is a dangerous sport and that is why we are out there pushing to the limit and playing with that limit, but you also have to respect it.’

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