Safety: What Saved Romain Grosjean in 28 Seconds

Formula 1 experienced a brutal flashback to the past this Sunday: about 50 years back, with this incredibly violent accident on the first lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Romain Grosjean’s Haas was split in two after crashing into a safety barrier… at 221 km/h! These circumstances notably take us back to that fateful day of October 6, 1973, with French driver François Cevert, who was killed in a qualifying accident against a barrier at the American Watkins Glen circuit.

Except that on the Sakhir circuit, we quickly saw Romain Grosjean conscious, dazed, and sitting in the medical car. The Geneva native suffers “only” from burns on his hands and ankles. A miracle!

A heart-stopping moment on Lap 1 in Bahrain

We are all incredibly grateful that @RGrosjean walked away from this incident#BahrainGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/6ZztuxOLhw

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 29, 2020

Saved first by the Halo

The driver admitted it himself in a video posted from his hospital bed: without the Halo, Romain Grosjean wouldn’t be here to talk about it. It was indeed this safety device that saved his life. It absorbed the majority of the 53G impact energy from the crash into the barrier. The Frenchman remained conscious as he jumped from his car engulfed in flames. Introduced in 2018, the Halo fully played its role, as F1 director Ross Brawn also highlighted in the paddock on Sunday evening.

« There is no doubt: the Halo saved Romain. If we remember well, there was a lot of controversy when it was introduced. After what happened, I think no one can doubt its effectiveness. »

Let’s still remember that the Halo was introduced in F1 more than 3 years after the fatal crash of Jules Bianchi. An accident under the wet track at Suzuka against a recovery vehicle, authorized by the stewards and the FIA, despite the yellow flag conditions.

« There is no doubt: the Halo saved Romain. » Ross Brawn, F1 director

The lucidity of a commissioner and the occupants of the medical car

These unsung heroes also helped Romain Grosjean: FIA doctor Ian Roberts and driver Alan van der Merwe, aboard the medical car. As in every race, the two companions followed the start from the back of the grid. They were the first to arrive at the accident scene, along with a marshal who ran the race of his life, equipped with a fire extinguisher. An object that allowed Grosjean to make his way through the flames while getting out of his car.

« When stopping, I saw Romain trying to get out » Dr. Ian Roberts recounted on Sky Sports F1, he too was burned and helped the Frenchman cross the barrier in the flames, risking his own life. « We had to find a way to help him, and there was this marshal with a fire extinguisher. It was necessary to push back the flames. »

On his side, Alan van der Merwe had never seen such a fire since he became the medical car driver. It was essential to be instinctive and think quickly, beyond the FIA’s safety protocols.

So relieved that @RGrosjean is safe. Thanks to Dr Ian Roberts and the @FIA teams for their courageous and efficient intervention. We have always put safety at the top of our priorities and will continue to do so.#F1 #BahrainGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/64xubWCgUH

— Jean Todt (@JeanTodt) November 29, 2020

The role of the survival cell as well

Beyond the Halo, modern F1 cars have become safer thanks to the survival cell. It also played its role by remaining “intact” in the violence of the impact. Even separated from the rear of the car, it protected Romain Grosjean’s body. This extreme scenario is anticipated in the construction of the cars.

A life-saving equipment

Another urgency for the FIA doctor Ian Roberts at the moment of Grosjean’s evacuation was smoke inhalation, similar to Niki Lauda, who suffered lung damage in 1976 during his accident on the Nordschleife. But the Frenchman’s equipment protected him: his helmet, visor, or fireproof balaclava. Or his ultralight suit, capable of withstanding fire for more than 20 seconds, the time it took the Haas driver to escape the blaze.

Protections right to the fingertips, with biometric gloves equipped with sensors to measure the pulse or the oxygen level in the pilot’s blood, among other things.

As Julien Fébreau rightly summarized live on Canal+, everything takes on its meaning in such circumstances.

Romain’s Courage

Experienced driver on the circuit (179 starts in F1), vice-president of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) with Sebastian Vettel, Romain Grosjean also saved himself thanks to his lucidity and love for his family, “thinking of his family and children,” added Julien Fébreau on Canal+ on Sunday evening, who is also a close friend of the Frenchman.

A mastery of events, even in urgency, praised by Dr. Ian Roberts: « Romain made a considerable effort. The fact that he got himself out of the car, and also that one of his shoes came off… if any of these small things had changed, the result might be different. »

In total, the Frenchman remained 28 seconds in the fire of his car. An eternity, concluded by this miracle: protected by his guardian angels Jules Bianchi and Anthoine Hubert, Romain Grosjean is alive and on his two feet. And that is indeed what matters most.

Thank god Romain is fine. That’s the only thing that matters today. pic.twitter.com/jSoEDBoWFV

— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) November 29, 2020