Formula 1: Haas release medical update on Romain Grosjean

The Haas Formula 1 team have released a statement containing a medical update on Romain Grosjean following his fiery Bahrain Grand Prix crash.

The Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit was brought to a lengthy red flag period on the opening lap after a fiery shunt involving veteran Romain Grosjean, who has competed for Haas since they began competing in Formula 1 in 2016.

Coming out of turn three of the 15-turn, 3.363-mile (5.412-kilometer) road course in Sakhir, Bahrain, Grosjean veered right to avoid debris from contact ahead as well as a car that had gone off of the track to the left of him. As a result, his Haas clipped the front of the AlphaTauri of Daniil Kvyat, sending the Haas careening into the barrier.

But this was not a normal crash barrier, in that it was on a straight and therefore not designed for the impact you see regular barriers designed for in Formula 1 where crashes generally happen. As a result, the impact of the crash split the Haas in two, with the front half, containing the cockpit, slicing through the barrier. The halo took the brunt of the impact to the cockpit area.

A huge fire ensued, but Grosjean managed to escape from the flames relatively unharmed.

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Haas have now released a statement detailing the injuries of the 34-year-old Frenchman, and it indicates a situation far better than many had assumed.

While at the time it was speculated that he may have suffered several broken ribs as a result of the impact in addition to burns on his hands and feet, this medical update notes that he has only sustained burns on the backs of both of his hands. All X-rays came back negative, and he is set to remain at the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) Hospital overnight.

Formula 1 is scheduled to get back into action at the same track next Sunday, December 6 on the outer layout for the Sakhir Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the 2020 season. Grosjean’s status for that race remains unclear, but it is slated to be his penultimate start for Haas, as he will not be back with the team in 2021.