Phew!!!

[JohnD]

Motorsport's worst nightmare is fire, and tonight's Bahrain F1 had one of the worst possible.  Roman Grosjean crashed off at max speed with a full fuel load three corners after the start and instantly the car was massively on fire.       The Medical car  really showed why it's there as it was right behind the pack.    Things looked extremely poor for Grojean, but extraordinarily, after 35 seconds inside that inferno, he leapt out and was grabbed by the doctor and into the medical car and away.     He is reported to have "minor burns" and a broken rib.

If I belived in them I'd say 'miraculous'.  In fact, a compliment to modern F1 technology - although WHY did the Haas break in two and release all it's fuel???

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/55122594

John

[JohnD]

Having said that, and looking at the footage again, I fear that the Armco  was badly installed!       It gave way between two sets of posts, that should have yeilded to the impact, absorbing energy, but stood firm.     The  Armco strips themselves  should stay intact,  while the posts break off, absorbing energy so that the Armco yields like a giant elastic band.

Instead, the car received the full energy of the impact and broke up.      The compliment is to  modern safety features (fire reistant overalls, cockpit design air supply to drivers helmet, and the Halo)   NOT to circuit safety.   F1 will be asking the Bahrain course some searching Qs about the contracts and work done there on barriers.

John

[Nick Jones]

Nothing further to add..... other than lucky he remained conscious and was undaunted enough to get himself out ..... and remembered to hold his breath....

Quite sobering.

[SpitfireBGT]

The halo on the car prevented him from having a halo over his head along with a set of wings. He may hold the record for the most races started without finishing the first lap.

[RedRooster]

Thats Jarno Truli at 14

https://www.mostlyf1.com/statistics/all-time-stats/driver-stats/mosts/most-first-lap-retirements/

[JohnD]

Best pic I've seen of Grosjean's rescue.

That's the doctor getting in close and personal!

[JohnD]

That doctor, above, was Dr.Ian Roberts, Formula 1 Medical Rescue Co-ordinator, and first out of the medical car to the rescue of Grosjean.

His valour has been recognised by the FIA: https://www.motorsportuk.org/dr-ian-roberts-receives-fia-president-award/?fbclid=IwAR3A85ClFt4Ur1SMtKEEcL2TIWmNLAv1yd4I2N4fDCAzDW0-TgXZYGOi5lc

[Sidescreen Vicky]

Brave, brave man, that doctor.  That photograph is quite haunting. 

I'm so relieved we haven't witnessed the same harrowing footage shown in the documentary  'Grand Prix - The Killer Years'.  If you have seen it, you will know the bit I'm referring to.

[SpitfireBGT]

14 hours ago, Sidescreen Vicky said:

'Grand Prix - The Killer Years'

That doc left a stain on me. 

[JohnD]

The FIA has, with remarkable diligence and speed, reported its findings on the Grosjean incident.     Better to read them, rather than me attempt a precis, but I note that it was  "the failure of the middle rail of the barrier and significant deformation of the upper and lower rails" that allowed the car to pierce the barrier, when it should have deflected it.   In other words, the Armco was not installed correctly.

The report identifies several other factors that need attention, and compliments the Rescue team, beyond the individual heroism of the doctors and marshals: "The FIA Medical Car arrived within 11 seconds of the incident, a time achieved partly due to the fact a ‘short cut’ was taken to avoid turn 1, demonstrating both local circuit knowledge and pre-planning."

See: https://www.fia.com/news/fia-concludes-investigation-romain-grosjeans-accident-2020-bahrain-formula-1-grand-prix-and?fbclid=IwAR2xPxZkD38mLnUGaDUoH4BmrG4HkCrJMAtPcLqzsOBo-pzHNYYnsPzumeU