2 months ago
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Four years ago Romain Grosjean rose like a phoenix, not from the ashes, but from the flames themselves.
He - somehow - got out of one of the worst Formula 1 crashes of all-time, rising despite horrific burns and a 'broken knee'.
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At the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix, his Haas swerved off track and thundered straight into a metal crash barrier.
The impact sheared his car into two pieces and launched a shocking fireball into the air, engulfing Grosjean as he sat trapped in his cockpit.
The watching world held its breath as marshals swarmed in an attempt to save the French-Swiss pilot from the flames.
Drivers begged on their radios for news as fans could only gaze helplessly at the carnage.
Some feared the worst.
But, somehow, despite bad burns to his hands and feet, he was able to squirm free and climb out.
Out of the inferno, Grosjean emerged. A miracle.
"It feels like it was yesterday and also 10 years ago," he told talkSPORT Driving as he looked back on the crash. "It's kind of a weird time frame feeling.
“You know, you forgot that it was four years ago because it follows me every day. Right. And, you know, I like to joke about the fact I have a tattoo on my left hand to remind me that it was there. But yeah, for sure, you know, through Netflix and the F1 exhibition and everything, it's always here."
The burnt out chassis has been on show at the ExCeL London since August and fans have marvelled at the wreckage, every one likely equally mesmerised and dumbfounded that Grosjean was able to escape.
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The current IndyCar star has no problems talking about the moment, though, insisting drivers know the dangers of their high-octane career.
He added: “It's part of what we do. And even though we don't talk about it very often, even though we are very lucky that all our new generation, we have not had to deal as much as, you know, think of all the older drivers that they were losing friends every other week. We had Jules Bianchi back in 2015.
"There was tragedy for all of us, but from Ayrton to Jules, there was no one in Formula One. And then, of course, my accident could have been one of those, but it was luckily not. So I think we kind of forgot that it's dangerous, but it's here and we know it.
“You know, we try to control as much as we can, but obviously sometimes they think that they're out of control. So no, it wasn't hard to speak about it. So it's going to be part of my story.”
And Grosjean is delighted fans are now able to see the wreckage as a new audience, engaged by Netflix's Drive to Survive, are able to see such an incredible piece of Formula 1 history.
The 38-year-old said: “Yeah, I guess it's, you know, it's a moment that if you love, love Formula 1, you may have been a hater or you've been a fan of me. I think you must have felt something in that moment. So being able to actually go and see that car, it's for sure something unique and very special. And people are lucky to be able to do that.
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“It's crazy to see the cars and the details of the cars and where it's at. And imagine that I was able to jump out of it and with only two hands burnt and a broken knee and nothing really big. So it's something unique. It's something that Formula 1 has been doing very well and showing people where we are and how much safety has come forward.
“And of course, there's always things we can do better. And there's always things that we learn each time. But if you're a new Formula One fan or even if you're a Formula 1 fan, that moment for sure you will know about that moment and being able to go and see the car is pretty neat.”
The exhibition is a fascinating look into both the past, present and future of F1, with crowds flocking to take a look into a world they usually can only see on TV.
Grosjean has admitted though, with a smile, he still isn't quite ready to see it.
“I've heard a lot about it, but I've not been there," he concluded. "Not sure I want to see that chassis.
“I still don't have the helmet home. I don't know if I feel like it, but I know it's fantastic for the fans to have the chance to see that.”
You can still see the F1 Exhibition at ExCeL London with tickets still available at https://f1exhibition.com/london
