BREAKING : Romain Grosjean Returns to F1 Car Five Years After Fiery Bahrain Crash… Read more
Romain Grosjean Returns to F1 Car Five Years After Fiery Bahrain Crash
Five years after surviving one of the most frightening accidents in Formula 1 history, Romain Grosjean has made an extraordinary return to the cockpit of an F1 car. The Frenchman, who many believed would never again sit behind the wheel of a Grand Prix machine, completed a special test with Haas at the Mugello Circuit, marking an emotional moment in his career and for the sport as a whole.
Grosjean’s F1 journey came to an abrupt end at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, a race that stunned the motorsport world. Driving for Haas at the time, he lost control on the opening lap and slammed into the barriers at high speed. The violent impact split his car in two and triggered an enormous fireball that engulfed the wreckage. Miraculously, Grosjean managed to free himself after 27 harrowing seconds trapped in the blaze. Though he escaped with burns to his hands, the incident forced him to withdraw from the remainder of the season. Reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi stepped in to complete the final races for the American team.
At 34, Grosjean’s F1 career seemed to be over. However, his determination to continue racing never wavered. Over the past few years, he has competed successfully in IndyCar and the World Endurance Championship, proving his resilience and adaptability in top-tier motorsport. Yet, the dream of driving an F1 car again remained unfinished business.
That chance finally arrived on Friday when Grosjean, now 39, returned to familiar surroundings with Haas. Taking part in the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme, he drove the team’s 2023 challenger around the sweeping Mugello Circuit in Italy. The significance of the occasion was heightened by his helmet choice—one designed by his children for the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which was meant to be his farewell race. Because of the Bahrain crash, Grosjean never got the chance to use it. Five years later, he finally wore it on track, turning the test into a symbolic full-circle moment.
Although Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff had publicly offered Grosjean a test drive once he recovered, it was Haas, the team with which he spent the final five seasons of his F1 career, that ultimately delivered the opportunity. Between 2016 and 2020, Grosjean scored 104 points for Haas, helping establish the team during its early years in the sport. His most successful spell, however, came earlier with Lotus, where he secured 10 podium finishes between 2012 and 2015.
Speaking about the experience, Grosjean expressed his excitement and gratitude, noting how special it was to be back in an F1 environment after so many years. The test not only rekindled his bond with the sport but also showcased the remarkable perseverance that has defined his career since that terrifying night in Bahrain.
For fans and colleagues alike, his return was a reminder of both the dangers and the spirit of Formula 1. Few drivers have faced such a dramatic exit from the sport, and even fewer have managed to make their way back. Grosjean’s laps at Mugello stand as a powerful symbol of survival, resilience, and an enduring love for racing.
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