Romain Grosjean’s Grand Prix crash in Bahrain, described by Formula 1 doctors who saved him

The Formula One medical car team that helped Romain Grosjean escape from his fiery Grand Prix accident in Bahrain has downplayed its exploits and said they would learn to do better if one did terrible accident happened again.

Ian Roberts, an FIA motorsport governing body doctor, rushed to the fire with an open helmet to climb Grosjean out of the inferno, but said the Frenchman had already “done a fantastic job free himself”.

Grosjean got out of the car before the paramedics could reach him but was taken over the guardrail and to safety.

Roberts and medical car driver Alan van der Merwe were hailed as heroes after the accident, but they said they were just doing their job.

“I’m not a hero. A lot of people do serious and real heroic things. I’ve done what was necessary, so no, I don’t consider myself a hero,” said the doctor.

“But I am very happy about the kind words from the people.”

Van der Merwe said there had been discussions about changes that could be made for the Sakhir Grand Prix next weekend on the same track.

“Ian and I are going to do very little things that we think would have given us more time or wiggle room. We discussed that over breakfast this morning,” he said.

“Now we know what we have to do and what we have to improve.”

“I could see him behind a leaf of flame.”

Roberts said the scene of the accident looked like something out of a Hollywood movie when they arrived seconds after Grosjean’s Haas car, which had driven through the metal barriers, split in two and burst into flames.

“I could see Romain in his car trying to get out of the car, the fire was going well and I could see him behind a flame plate, almost like an oven,” he said.

A marshal had run across the track with a fire extinguisher, and this was aimed at Grosjean to keep the flames back for precious seconds.

When Grosjean appeared on top of the barrier, Roberts was able to reach in and grab him.

“I pulled him to our car, but he couldn’t actually see anything, the demolitions [strips across the helmet visor] had melted and his visor seemed rather opaque. “

Grosjean, whose last speed before reaching the barrier was 221 km / h, had burns on the back of his hand but was otherwise unharmed. He is expected to stay in the hospital until Tuesday and not be racing this weekend.

Van der Merwe said it was “a little embarrassing” to be called a hero.

“I think we did well. I think we can do better next time,” he said.

“It’s a really positive story, it’s really good for Formula 1. It confirms that we are doing the right thing and that I think we should keep doing what we are doing and trying to improve things.”

The guardrail shouldn’t fail and the car shouldn’t catch fire: Vettel

Grosjean’s passengers ask questions about how it was allowed to happen in the first place.

Sport has massively increased safety standards over the decades. Grosjean praised his car’s Halo head protection for saving his life, but four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel wants to know how the scary scene unfolded.

“The guardrail should not fail like that,” said the Ferrari star, who, like Grosjean, is director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, told Sky Sports.

“It’s good that the cars are safer than they used to be, but the guardrail shouldn’t fail and the car shouldn’t catch fire that way.

The ruling FIA said it would open a full investigation into the accident that could take “weeks, if not months”.

It will take a look at why the barrier was split and the car caught fire.

“This process will continue,” said FIA race director Michael Masi.

“You learn something small, something big every time. But the learning process continues.”

Reuters