Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash

Romain Grosjean has spoken for the first time since his crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Haas driver took to Instagram from his hospital bed at the Bahrain Defence Force Hospital to assure Formula One fans that he is in a good condition after his Haas car was left a flaming wreck following a horrible incident on the first lap of the race.

Despite the horrible nature of the 140mph crash, which saw Grosjean’s car completely split the barriers and the chassis of the car left torn in two halves, the racer has escaped without major injuries.

He has suffered burns to the hands, as seen in his Instagram video, but fortunately nothing more serious given the crash would have ended his life if not for the halo that protects his cockpit.

Were it not for the curved titanium crash-protection device, introduced in 2018 to much criticism due to the aesthetics of it, Grosjean’s head would have felt the full force and such an impact would surely have proven fatal.

Thankfully, however, Grosjean can be seen smiling in his video update and he is in good spirits, making a friendly joke about his hand injuries, having survived his accident.

He said: “Hello everyone, just wanted to say, I’m OK. Well, sort of OK *wiggles fingers*. Thank you very much for all the messages.

Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash

Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash (Image: INSTAGRAM)

Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash

Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash (Image: GETTY)

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

“Thank you to all the medical staff at the circuit, at the hospital. Hopefully I can write you quite soon some messages and tell you how it’s going.”

A Haas statement on Sunday night meanwhile read: “Following medical evaluation by doctors at the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) Hospital Haas F1 Team driver Romain Grosjean will remain in hospital overnight to be treated for burns sustained on the back of both hands after his opening lap incident at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

“All X-rays performed on Grosjean came back clear of fractures. Updates will be given when further information is available.”

F1 boss Ross Brawn has confirmed that thorough investigations will be conducted to understand the nature of the incident, which caused the kind of inferno not seen in F1 for decades thanks to the sport’s ever-improving safety protocols.

Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash

Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash (Image: F1)

“It’s shocking for everyone in F1 to see an accident of that severity,” Brawn said. “We’re not used to that, fire being involved as well.

“But I think it’s a tribute to the work that the FIA and the teams have done over the years. I think we remember the controversy of the halo when it was introduced.

“And I have to give credit to Jean Todt, because he insisted that it should come through. And I think today, we might be looking at a different situation that we didn’t have the halo.

“And for me, that’s what prised, and managed to keep the barrier apart, when the car went through it.

“But I’m sure we’ll have a deep investigation to understand what we can learn from it. Because seeing a barrier split like that is clearly not what we want to see.

Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash

Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash (Image: GETTY)

Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash

Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash (Image: INSTAGRAM)

“Credit to everyone. Clear thought, clear purpose. They didn’t hesitate. They did exactly what they needed to do today, and you can’t fault them.

“And we’re proud to have them all. And I think it’s very reassuring for the drivers to see that level of professionalism, and that response. And from that respect, I think it was perfect.

“Obviously, we don’t want to see an accident like that. But in terms of the response. I can’t really think there could have been anything more effectively done.”

Similarly, Bahrain race-winner Lewis Hamilton said: “The cockpit, I don’t know what Gs he pulled but I’m just so grateful that the halo worked and the barrier didn’t slice his head off or something like that.

“It could have been so much worse. It’s a reminder to us and hopefully to the people that are watching that this is a dangerous sport.

“That’s why we’re out there pushing to the limit and playing with that limit. You also have to respect it.

Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash

Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash (Image: F1)

Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash

Romain Grosjean speaks for the first time from hospital bed after Bahrain Grand Prix crash (Image: F1)

“I think it shows the amazing job that Formula One and the FIA have done over time to be able to walk away from that.

“Of course that will be investigated and they’ll do a lot of work to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Medical car driver Alan van der Merwe, who helped save Grosjean from the burning wreckage, said: “Big surprise for us, we’ve never seen that much fire. In 12 years I’ve not seen much fire and an impact like that.

“We took a while to process and then Romain got out of the car himself, which is pretty amazing after an accident like that. There was relief when we got back here.

“It just goes to show, all the systems we have worked to develop, everything worked hand-in-hand: the halo, the barriers, the seat-belt. Everything worked.

“Without just one of those things working, it could have been a very different outcome.”

source: express.co.uk