Five years after the fire crash
Ex-Formula 1 driver sends emotional message
January 11, 2026 – 3:55 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
More than five years ago, Romain Grosjean ended up in the barrier with his Haas. His car burst into flames and memories came flooding back.
In the end, Romain Grosjean “only” suffered burns on his left hand in 2020. A miracle when you see the flames that the Haas car burst into during the race in Bahrain. A little more than five years later, the ex-Formula 1 driver had an emotional reunion: with the helmet from back then.
This was probably the decisive factor in ensuring that Grosjean did not suffer a serious injury to his head, as it took him 27 seconds to free himself from the burning car. He now posted a photo with the picture on Instagram and wrote emotional words about it.
“Five years after November 29, 2020, I am reunited with my helmet,” announced the now 39-year-old. “I didn’t know if I was ready, but my children really wanted to understand how I was so well protected by the fire and what happened that night.”
He then thanked Bell Racing and Alpine Star, both companies that are responsible for helmets and the safety of drivers.
At the end of the post, he became particularly emotional, noting that even such profound experiences are quickly forgotten, “but this reminds me to make the most of our lives every day.”
Particularly bitter for Grosjean: The accident in Bahrain was not only a major blow to his health, it was also his last race in the premier motorsport class. Afterwards he never returned to the Haas. Instead, he drove in the IndyCar Series from 2021, where he has only been active as a reserve driver since 2025.