Race and classic pictures

Grosjean miraculous survives to race another day

X (Twitter)X (Twitter)
FacebookFacebook
WhatsappWhatsapp

On this day four years ago, Romain Grosjean miraculously escaped a fiery crash on the opening lap of the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Haas driver's car had plowed into the barrier, split in two and caught fire with the Frenchman seemingly trapped and doomed to face a terminal outcome.

But somehow, stranded in the fireball, Grosjean collected his thoughts and succeeded after a 28-second ordeal in evading death, and to survive to race another day.

For Grosjean, his astonishing escape on that eventful day is in the rear view mirror, the former Grand Prix driver moving ahead just months later onto a new chapter in his motorsport career.

But the horrifying images of the F1 driver's real life nightmare and anguish are forever emblazoned in motorsport's collective memory.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Horner on Lawson demotion: ‘You’ve got to be cruel to be kind’

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner stabdsd by his team’s decision to demote Liam Lawson…

4 hours ago

Haas rolling the dice with risky VF-25 floor update in Suzuka

Haas heads into the Japanese Grand Prix weekend with a risky move after fast-tracking a…

6 hours ago

Japanese GP: Thursday's build-up in pictures

The Japanese Grand Prix roars into action this weekend at one of its most iconic…

7 hours ago

Norris: McLaren ‘unbeatable’is just rivals ‘talking crap’

Lando Norris, the current F1 championship leader, has hit out at suggestions that McLaren holds…

8 hours ago

A historic first, and last, for Andretti at Long Beach

Mario Andretti won the 1977 US Grand Prix West at Long Beach on this day…

9 hours ago

Hamilton calls doubts over faith in Ferrari ‘complete rubbish’

Lewis Hamilton has forcefully dismissed suggestions that he’s losing faith in Ferrari, calling such claims…

10 hours ago