Race officials and drivers praised the modern safety systems developed for Formula One on Sunday after Romain Grosjean said he was “okay” after surviving a high-speed crash and fireball blaze on the opening lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Frenchman’s car rammed into the barriers as he braked hard from around 250 km/h (155 mph) during the opening lap, the front part hammering into the steel guardrails which buckled.
Grosjean, 34, trapped in his cockpit, flew under the barrier as it gave way and as his car burst into flames, splitting in two on impact, but managed to escape with only “light burns” to his hands and ankles.
“Hello everyone, just wanted to say I’m okay, well, …
Keep on reading: F1 safety systems praised as Grosjean survives fireball in ‘miracle’