Magnussen praises F1 safety for Grosjean "miracle" on "day to forget"

Haas driver Kevin Magnussen declared the Bahrain Grand Prix as "very much a day to forget" but praised the safety innovations that saved the life of team-mate Romain Grosjean.

Grosjean is expected to be released from hospital on Tuesday after receiving treatment for burns suffered in the appalling accident during lap one of the race in which his car split into two and ignited into flames on contact with a barrier.

Magnussen was naturally full of gratitude for the halo head-protection device that ensured Grosjean survived while he also spoke of his relief at his team-mate's incredible escape.

"Very much a day to forget," he said. "[But] I am very, very happy to see Romain walk away from that crash.

"It was unbelievable, the crash he had there. To see him survive that is frankly a miracle.

"So happy that the halo was introduced, that we have this thing on the car because without that, surely it would have been very difficult. That is all for me really, just happy we still have Romain."

After the restart, the race did not improve for Magnussen who finished 17th and last of those who took the chequered flag after contact on lap three damaged his front wing and ultimately compromised his strategy.

With any chance of being competitive ruined at that point, Magnussen said it was simply "not our day".

He added: "I lost my front wing on the first lap of the second restart and had to pit for another set of hards which then was my tyre for the rest of the race.

"I did the whole race on one set and we thought the race was going to be a two-stop so not easy."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Oscar Piastri blames 'mirror system' after being hit with FIA warning

• 7 minutes ago

Max Verstappen reveals why he kicked out F1 journalist at Japanese Grand Prix

• 48 minutes ago

'It's better to quit': Will Max Verstappen take F1 icon's advice?

• 1 hour ago

Lando Norris on brink of FIA penalty after Japanese Grand Prix disaster

• 1 hour ago

Toto Wolff on Mercedes rumours: Verstappen latest, 11-year deal for George Russell?

• 2 hours ago

Fernando Alonso to retire on one condition as 'mental strain' takes its toll

• 2 hours ago