Grosjean's miraculous survival: An image etched in F1 history

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On this day five 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.