Roman Grosjean’s Dramatic F1 Comeback
When Roman Grosjean was behind the wheel in a Formula 1 car, an unimaginable incident unfolded.
This incident changed everything for him.
The setting was the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, part of the Formula 1 season that’s often reshuffled due to the global pandemic. It marked the beginning of two back-to-back races at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Grosjean, in his ninth season of F1 and fifth with Haas F1, entered the race week with just two points—courtesy of a 9th place finish at the Eifel Grand Prix.
During a challenging qualifying session, both Grosjean and his teammate Kevin Magnussen were eliminated early, with Magnussen starting 18th and Grosjean right behind in 19th place at the back of the grid.
On the race’s opening lap, Grosjean found himself in a tight spot, caught in traffic. As he was navigating around a car that had slid off track, he collided with Daniil Kvyat’s Alpha Tauri, turning his VF-20 into a passenger itself.
The impact was severe; Grosjean hit a barrier at high speed, experiencing a force of 67 g, which split his car in two.
The VF-20 caught fire almost immediately from the collision, engulfing Grosjean in flames.
Witnessed by horrified onlookers, emergency personnel rushed to the scene. Thankfully, they quickly extinguished the flames, allowing Grosjean to escape the wreckage within just 28 seconds, assisted by medical staff.
He ended up with only minor burns on his hands and ankles.
In a video released later, Grosjean expressed his belief that the Halo device—a protective feature surrounding the cockpit—was crucial in saving his life.
Looking back on the crash a few years after the event, Grosjean acknowledged that he didn’t fully grasp the severity of the impact until he viewed the footage.
“From my perspective, it felt like a serious accident, but I didn’t realize how violent it truly was,” he shared.
He recounted how the next day, his family vividly remembered the moment, as his wife was watching the race with their children.
“We had to break the helmet to get me out. I felt my left foot was stuck, and I pulled as hard as I could. The shoe remained in the car, but my foot eventually became loose enough to get out,” he described.
While acknowledging the dangers of the moment, he noted that the combination of fuel and batteries that were on fire made the situation dire. Medical staff and firefighters worked diligently to create an opening in the flames to rescue him.
“The Survival Cell is what really protects you. I was safe inside that shell,” Grosjean reflected on the design that kept him from serious harm.
The wreckage of his VF-20 now serves as a part of an F1 exhibition, symbolizing the safety features that saved him and the dramatic crash, which gained attention on the Netflix docuseries Drive to Survive.
Unfortunately, the crash concluded his season, and Haas opted not to retain him for 2021, moving on from both Grosjean and Magnussen. He did have plans to test with Mercedes, but travel restrictions due to COVID-19 thwarted that opportunity.
Grosjean’s Formula One days seemed to close as he signed on with Dale Coyne Racing in the IndyCar Series. He raced with DCR until this season when he transitioned to a new team as a reserve driver.
Nevertheless, Grosjean is now regarded as one of F1’s remarkable comebacks, reminiscent of other inspiring stories from the sport.
Recently, Haas announced that Grosjean would have the chance to test a previous car at the Autodromo Internazionale Del Mugello.
Some of Grosjean’s original Haas crew will be present to support him during the session. Ayao Komatsu, now the Haas team principal but who previously worked with Grosjean, expressed excitement about the collaboration.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Roman back to a Formula 1 car, especially one of our own. This test is important to us as he has been a part of our journey,” Komatsu shared.
Grosjean himself described the upcoming sessions as “something really special,” expressing gratitude for the opportunity to reunite with the team he once called home.
In a sentimental note, he mentioned that he would finally be able to wear a helmet designed by his children for what was meant to be his final Grand Prix back in 2020.
“I can hardly believe it’s been almost five years, but it’s truly special to get back behind the wheel of an F1 car with my old team,” he concluded, signaling an incredible personal journey towards recovery and resurgence.
