Grosjean Bahrain crash changed perspective on F1 exit

Romain Grosjean has said his outlook on leaving Formula 1 changed after his shocking Bahrain Grand Prix crash.

The Frenchman escaped with relatively minor injuries from the incident last season, although burns sustained to his left hand prevented him from competing in the final two races of the year.

After announcing a deal to race on street and road courses for Dale Coyne Racing with Rick Ware Racing in IndyCar this season, Grosjean conceded he sees life in a different light since the crash.

“I think there is definitely a before and after," he said. "For sure, I see life a bit different but it always tends to go back to who you were.

"Even though there is going to be scars on my hand and scars on my brain – but not negative scars on my brain – I think they are very positive.

"I think it is an understanding of where life goes and how quickly it can go away. I am happy to be alive, I am happy to spend time with my kids. I am happy to decide when I want to go racing and that has been the big one.

"When you are in Formula 1, you try to stay in Formula 1 at any cost but now I have realised it was great, wouldn’t change anything in my career but there is a lot to be done outside Formula 1 and I am more than ready for it.”

Having missed the final two races of the season, Grosjean revealed a special helmet designed by his children that he had planned to wear at Abu Dhabi in December.

Grosjean did, however, suggest he would use the helmet in his maiden IndyCar outing as it "means a lot" to him.

“I am going to race that helmet for the first test this year and maybe for the first race of the season," he beamed.

"I am just updating the sponsors and hiding the Haas logo and putting the Dale Coyne logos on. But I am going to race that helmet. It means a lot to me."

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