Grosjean: 'Quite funny' how people reacted after fireball crash
Grosjean: 'Quite funny' how people reacted after fireball crash
Former Haas driver Romain Grosjean has conceded the perception of his horrifying crash that ended his F1 career is "quite funny".
Grosjean was due to leave the sport at the end of the 2020 season with Haas taking a different route with rookies Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin.
But the Frenchman missed the last two races after sustaining severe burns in the fiery incident on lap one of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
READ MORE: F1-FIA conflict: New Ferrari boss makes prediction for Bahrain
The VF-20 pierced the retaining barrier on the inside of the exit of turn three, ripping in half and with the fuel line ruptured, the wreck was engulfed in flames.
Miraculously, Grosjean freed himself and jumped to safety with the help of Dr Ian Roberts and medical car driver Alan Van der Merwe and the local marshalling team.
Grosjean has since forged a new career in IndyCar and for this year, has joined Lamborghini as a factory GT driver.
Asked if the perception of the crash bothered him, Grosjean told GQ: "No, I don't care. It’s part of my career; it's part of my life.
"Especially in the U.S., because the audience is very new to Formula 1, a lot of people remember that accident, and they have never seen my podiums back in 2012 and 2013.
READ MORE: Who is Logan Sargeant? F1's new US star profiled
"I almost won three races in Formula 1, and it never really happened for outside reasons. But it's quite funny.
"I met some people that know of me since the Lotus days in Formula 1 and say they've been watching it all.
"And I watch a lot of younger people, younger audience, they have only seen Drive to Survive on Netflix. So they talk about Guenther Steiner and ask how he is in real life, and of course the accident."
Origin of the phoenix
Grosjean has used a phoenix as a symbol of his return to racing and explaining why, he added: "I think the accident, it's one of those things that kind of marked the world.
"It was pretty much on every TV you could switch on. It was very impressive.
"That’s the way I see that: 'Phoenix.' It's the rise from something bad.
"It's not necessarily related to the fire, but it's how you can rise from something that could destroy you but use it in a positive way and rise from there."
READ MORE: February 2023: Key dates for your diary
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Audi agree STAR driver contract as Mercedes driver tipped for new F1 seat THIS season - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
- Yesterday 22:57
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
- Yesterday 21:57
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- Yesterday 17:57
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- Yesterday 20:57
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- Yesterday 19:57
Related news
Former F1 star makes BRAVE return in Bahrain
Former F1 star shows off INCREDIBLE new skill
Former F1 star reveals Mercedes drive still on the cards
Grosjean reveals surprising Alonso message after HUGE F1 crash
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860