Formula 1 racing driver Romain Grosjean has survived a high-speed crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix, emerging from his car as it was engulfed in flames after smashing through a barrier.
The 34-year-old hopped out of his car – which was ripped in two – managing to escape after being inside the car while it was on fire for around 20 seconds.
The accident halted the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix on the opening lap, before the Frenchman limped away to an ambulance.
He is now being treated in hospital.
The vehicle was ripped in two
His F1 team Haas tweeted he “has some minor burns on his hands and ankles but otherwise he is ok”.
“He is with the doctors just now,” they added.
An FIA spokesman said the impact of Grosjean’s crash was measured at 53G.
Grosjean limped away from the car following the accident
Replays showed the driver leaping over the barriers and away from the flaming wreckage of his car. He was escorted to an ambulance and appeared to be limping.
Medics attend to Haas F1’s French driver Romain Grosjean after the crash
The accident was triggered when the Haas French driver swerved across the front of Daniil Kvyat, making contact with his AlphaTauri.
Lewis Hamilton, who is aiming for his 11th victory of F1 2020, tweeted he was “so grateful Romain is safe”.
Wreckage of Haas F1’s French driver Romain Grosjean’s car is removed
The 34-year-old has been taken to hospital
He added: “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.”
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said: “Romain is doing okay, I don’t want to make a medical comment but he had light burns on his hands and ankles. Obviously he’s shaken… I want to thank the rescue crews who are very quick. The marshals and FIA people they did a great job, it was scary.”
Track marshals put out the fire
Sky Sports’ Karun Chandhok, a former racing driver, said: “It looks like when the car went through the barriers, the back of the chassis where the engine is mounted, the engine mount has snapped off and ripped off a bit of the chassis and that appears to have pierced the fuel bag.”
Work is under way to repair the significant damage to the trackside barriers where the crash occurred.
The race is expected to restart and there will be a 10 minute warning when Race Control plan to get going again.