Two days after his terrifying accident, F1 racer Romain Grosjeas gave an interview to French broadcaster TF1.
“It felt much longer than 28 seconds, I see my visor turning all orange, I see the flames on the left side of the car. I thought about a lot of things – including Niki Lauda – and I thought that it wasn’t possible to end up like that, not now. I couldn’t finish my story in Formula 1 like that.”
“I thought I needed to get out for my kids. I put my hands in the fire so I could feel them burn on the chassis. Then I felt someone pull my racesuit, so I understood I was out.”
“My five-year-old son is convinced I have superpowers, that I have a magical love shield, He said I could fly outside the car. These words are very strong. My elder son is more into trying to understand what happened on a rational level, and the youngest has drawn a drawing for daddy’s hand injuries. I was more scared for my relatives than for me. My three kids are my biggest source of pride and energy.”
“I think there’ll be a need to do some psychological work because I saw death coming. You have seen the images, and even in Hollywood they can’t do that, the explosion, the car engulfed in flames.
“I’m happy to be alive. I see things differently. There’s also a need to get back in the car, potentially in Abu Dhabi, to end my F1 journey in a different way. It felt almost like a second birth. I’ll remember for the rest of my life pulling out of the flames. A lot of people have reached out with messages of love. It was very moving, and I sometimes have tears in my eyes.”
“I don’t know if the word miracle exists or if it can be used, but in any case I would say it was not my time to die.”
Romain Grosjean, Haas F1 driver
About Post Author
