How F1's safety advances saved Grosjean
Romain Grosjean credited the halo for saving him after his horror Bahrain Grand Prix crash. But, while F1's newest safety feature deserved a show of gratitude, it was a whole range of procedures and devices in place (plus a slice of luck) that proved vital
Romain Grosjean's escape from the burning wreckage of his Haas VF-20 is nothing short of miraculous. That he was able to extricate himself, leap out of the barrier-entangled safety cell and into the arms of Alan van der Merwe and Dr Ian Roberts was a remarkable piece of luck that left all to breathe a sigh of relief.
When he drifted to the right on the exit of Turn 3, seemingly to avoid debris produced by Lando Norris' McLaren after he was sandwiched between Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, Grosjean pulled across the path of Daniil Kvyat and was turned directly into the face of the barrier. He hit the barrier with such force - recorded with a peak impact at 50g hitting the barrier at 137mph - that his car powered through it like a ballistic missile, tearing the Armco asunder.
What the Spain result tells F1 about the next phase of the Mercedes/Red Bull title fight
OPINION: Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have recovered from their pre-season woes to take three wins from the opening four races of 2021. But each time Red Bull and Max Verstappen have pushed them hard. So, what clues did the latest round of that battle – the Spanish Grand Prix – tease about the next stage of the season?
How Brabham’s one-hit wonder was boxed into a corner
The Brabham BT46B raced once, won once, then vanished – or did it? STUART CODLING reveals the story of the car which was never actually banned…
The changes Barcelona needs to provide a modern-day F1 spectacle
Formula 1’s visits to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya over recent years have been met with familiar criticisms despite tweaks here and there to the track to improve racing. With the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix largely going the same way, proper solutions need to be followed to achieve F1’s wider targets
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings
Often described as Formula 1's laboratory, the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona gave the clearest demonstration yet of the pecking order in 2021. And it's the key discrepancies from that order which illuminate who is excelling, and who needs to hit the reset button
How Red Bull’s deja vu set Hamilton on the winning path in Spain
An aggressive first corner move from Max Verstappen appeared to have set the Red Bull driver on course for victory in the Spanish Grand Prix. But canny strategy from Mercedes - combined with the absence of Red Bull's number two from the lead group - allowed Lewis Hamilton to pull off a demoralising reversal
The toe-in-water origins of Lotus’s groundbreaking F1 journey
In the first part of our history of Lotus, DAMIEN SMITH recalls how Formula 1 wasn’t an immediate priority for team founder Colin Chapman – but once he got a taste for it he just couldn’t stop…
How Hamilton’s qualifying record compares to Senna and Schumacher
Lewis Hamilton has just become the first driver to record 100 world championship Formula 1 pole positions. Time to revisit a debate we discussed when he reached 150 front row starts in 2020.
Why sustainability is being mandated by F1
Continuing to be socially acceptable as public views shift globally is vitally important to the future of motor racing, says PAT SYMONDS - especially in Formula 1, the championship that represents the technological peak
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About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Romain Grosjean |
| Author | Jake Boxall-Legge |