F1 Driver Credits Halo In Saving His Life After Walking Away From Fiery Crash

Formula 1 drivers travel at insanely fast speeds. So safety is of course a top priority on F1 cars. The Halo wasn’t initially a welcomed addition from drivers however, U.S.-based Haas Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean would never have walked away from this crash without one.

Grosjean was driving in the Bahrain Grand Prix when he veered off track and drove head-on into a three-tiered steel barricade at 140 mph. The car split in half and exploded in flames before the rear end shot back onto the track and punched a hole through the barrier. This all happened with Grosjean in the car and ended with him on the other side.

If you watched it live you probably thought he didn’t make it. The scene was horrifying to watch unfold. Miraculously, Grosjean crawled out of the wall of fire behind and climbed to safety. Flames were so intense you could not see Grosjean for a moment. It’s reported that Grosjean is doing ok, although he is suffering from minor burns and at least one broken rib.

The accident happened midway through the first lap when Grosjean and Kvyat met up. Kyvat headed straight while Grosjean veered right into the triple-Armco barrier. As to why the barrier failed will be the subject of a “deep” investigation, F1 boss Ross Brawn said after the race.

Lewis Hamilton, who won the race, pointed out that the relatively new halo likely saved Grosjean’s life.

“I wasn’t for the halo some years ago but I think it’s the greatest thing we brought to Formula 1 and without it I wouldn’t be able to speak to you today,” Grosjean said in an Instagram message from his bed on Sunday.

The race was delayed while the barrier was rebuilt and took nearly three hours to complete in the end.