‘I’m so grateful Romain is safe’: Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to F1 driver Grosjean after his horror crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix as footage shows seven-time world champion watching a replay in disbelief
- Romain Grosjean miraculously walked away following horror crash in Bahrain
- 34-year-old veered off the track and hit the barriers with impact of 53G
- His Haas car burst into flames after 140mph crash but Grosjean walked away
- World champion Lewis Hamilton spoke of his gratitude Grosjean emerged
- Hamilton thanked the FIA for advances in safety technology to protect drivers
Lewis Hamilton has said he has ‘so grateful’ that Romain Grosjean walked away safely from his horror crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.
Frenchman Grosjean, 34, veered off the track after just three corners, hitting the barriers with an impact registering at 53G that saw his car burst into flames.
The sport held its breath as the TV cameras cut away from the flashpoint and the race was immediately stopped.
Romain Grosjean is helped from the flaming wreckage of his car after a horror crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday
The Frenchman’s car hit the wall at 53G and promptly burst into flames in sickening fashion
World champion Lewis Hamilton watched replays of the crash in the pit lane and sent a message expressing gratitude that Grosjean was safe
Hamilton posted this message after Grosjean’s crash, expressing his thanks for the advances in safety technology that allowed the driver to walk away from the crash
But Grosjean miraculously emerged from the flaming car and was helped by track marshals to an ambulance.
He was helped into an ambulance by marshals and limped as he did so. He suffered minor burns to his hands and ankles. It is also suspected that Grosjean has sustained broken ribs.
Grosjean has been taken to the MDF MC Military Hospital for further treatment, the FIA confirmed.
Footage showed the rest of the drivers watching the incident unfold in the paddock and Hamilton was seen shaking his head in disbelief after watching a replay of the crash.
The remains of Grosjean’s car, which broke into two after the crash, was cleared from the track
Grosjean was mercifully able to clamber out of the car and was helped into an ambulance
Grosjean, who was taken to the medical centre, suffered minor burns and also broken ribs
TV images showed the car on fire as marshals and emergency services flocked to the scene
Hamilton, who maintained his lead at the front of the grid, tweeted while the race was suspended and took the crash as a reminder of the dangers of the sport.
‘I’m so grateful Romain is safe. 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,’ he wrote.
‘Thankful to the FIA for the massive strides we’ve taken for Romain to walk away from that safely.’
Williams driver George Russell tweeted: ‘Massive relief to see Romain is ok. Huge credit to all the teams, the FIA and F1 for all the safety measures we have in the sport today.’