Formula 1

Romain Grosjean’s Burnt 2020 Haas From Awful Crash To Go On Display In Madrid

The upcoming F1 exhibition in Madrid will showcase the Haas chassis driven by Romain Grosjean during the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, where he was involved in a terrifying crash. The collision occurred during the opening lap of the race and caused the car to burst into flames, reaching speeds of approximately 120 miles per hour.

Grosjean was trapped in the car for 28 seconds while the FIA medical team worked to free him, making the incident a heart-stopping moment for fans and players alike.

Haas has collaborated closely with the exhibition to showcase this unique piece of F1 history, which has been kept under wraps for the past three years. It is expected to be a significant highlight for visitors interested in the sport’s rich history.

Reflecting on the terrifying crash, Grosjean shared his thoughts with the Formula 1 Exhibition in an interview. He revealed that he didn’t realize how violent the crash was until he saw it the next day, and his family who were watching it were just waiting for some news from Bahrain.

He further explained how he had to break the headrest to get out and how he realized that his left foot was stuck in the chassis, which he eventually managed to free himself from. The fire was made worse by the 120 kilos of fuel and the battery in the car.

Grosjean also noted that the survival cell in the car saved his life and that he was intact inside the shell. He expressed his gratitude to Dr Ian Roberts, Alan from the medical car, and one fireman for helping him get out of the car.

May 28, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; IndyCar Series driver Romain Grosjean at the drivers meeting for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

He explained:

“From my point of view, it was a big accident but I didn’t realise the impact or how violent it was from the outside.

“It was only the next day when I asked someone to show me what it looked like that I realised. My wife was actually watching that race with my dad and my kids. They will remember that moment their entire life. They were just spectators waiting to hear something… waiting to see something from Bahrain.

“I had to break the headrest, punching it with my helmet and then I eventually managed to get my helmet through and stand up in the seat. I realised my left foot was stuck into the chassis and I pulled as hard as I could on my left leg. My shoe stayed in the chassis but my foot came loose so I was free to exit the car.

“It was 120 kilos of fuel plus the battery – both were on fire. Dr Ian Roberts, Alan from the medical car and one fireman were trying to open a gap in the fire to help me get out. I believe that helped me at least to get a vision of where I had to go and where the exit was.

“The survival cell is there for you in case of a huge impact. I was intact inside the shell. The chassis is still in one piece, the halo is there and apart from the damage and burn it is still as it should be. I guess that saved my life.”

The exhibition will dedicate a room called ‘Survival’ to display Grosjean’s car chassis, and visitors will have the chance to see previously unreleased footage from the crash. This will enable them to have a deeper understanding of the event and its impact on F1.

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