The Man Who Walked Out of Fire Goes Behind the Wheel Again
At the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, the Formula 1 world was changed forever. A fiery crash left the grandstands and fans worldwide waiting for an update on Haas driver Romain Grosjean after he collided with a barrier. The Frenchman’s car split in two and caught fire during the opening lap of the race. After spending nearly 30 seconds in the burning car, Grosjean climbed out of the flame-engulfed wreckage with only minor injuries. His survival and jumping out of the crash became one of the most iconic images in recent Formula 1 history and highlighted the league’s recent safety improvements.
For the first time since his crash, he returned to the cockpit of a Formula 1 car for a special Haas test session. Grosjean drove for IndyCar from 2021 until 2024. Early this morning, Grosjean drove the VF-23 at Mugello for a test while wearing a helmet designed by his children that he planned to wear at the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. That race never came since he missed the final two races in the 2020 season, which were set to be his final races in F1. In the emotional return to his racing roots, Grosjean got a special send-off from the Formula 1 staff in Mugello that made him cry. His former team, Haas, currently sits second to last in the Constructors' Championship. With the new car and this test drive, they hope to perform better for the final races of the 2025 season. But for Grosjean, his simple test drive today brought his unfinished chapter in Formula 1 full circle.
Grosjean’s return to the sport that almost took his life shows his story is one about resilience, courage, and perseverance. His test drive in a Formula 1 car was deeply symbolic to the entire racing community that watched him climb out of the flaming wreckage in 2020. For a weekend without a race, F1 fans got a heartwarming story to remind everyone how far safety has come and how far the sport has come. The man who walked out of fire was back behind the wheel to prove that passion conquers fear.
