Haas: Grosjean could return for second Bahrain F1 race if fit and willing

Haas Formula 1 team boss Guenther Steiner says Romain Grosjean could return to action next weekend providing he is fit and comfortable to do so following his horrifying Bahrain Grand Prix crash.

The Frenchman’s Haas slammed into the barriers, split in two and burst into flames in a horrendous 137mph, 53G accident on the opening lap of Sunday’s race, which was stopped for over an hour.

Grosjean miraculously survived the incident but is being treated in hospital for burns to the back of his hands and will be kept overnight for further observation. There were fears that Grosjean had also sustained broken ribs, but initial X-rays showed no sign of any fractures.

Speaking to media after the race, Steiner revealed he was planning to visit Grosjean on Monday in order to get a further update on his driver’s condition and confirmed that the team’s intention would be to run Grosjean at next weekend’s second race to be held in Bahrain if he is able to.

“The overriding feeling is we got lucky, an angel was with us in my opinion,” Steiner said.

“I was very impressed with the medical car crew, how quick they intervened, to help him out, and also the marshal who aimed the fire extinguisher, how quick they were there, was quite impressive.

“The system is obviously worked today, there is just to say a big thank you to these guys.

“My plan is tomorrow to go and see him, see what is really happening,” Steiner added.

“I didn’t go there today, I just spoke on the telephone with them because we had a lot of stuff to sort out here.

“I will go there tomorrow morning, speak with him and see what the doctors have to say tomorrow and go from there.

“We’ve always got a plan in place but at the moment my plan is if he’s OK to get back in there to race in Bahrain next week [he can]. But we have to wait.”

Should Grosjean be ruled out of the Sakhir Grand Prix on medical grounds, Haas could call upon development drivers Pietro Fittipaldi or Louis Deletraz to deputise for its team regular, despite neither having any prior grand prix experience.

Free agent Nico Hulkenberg is also available as a possible back-up option for Haas with the German having made three appearances as a substitute at Racing Point during both races at Silverstone and the Eifel Grand Prix.

But Steiner refused to be drawn on possible replacements for Grosjean and insisted that he would be the first option as long as his injuries have healed and he is happy to drive.

“I want to speak first to Romain before speculating whoever goes in there if he cannot drive,” Steiner said.

“So, it will be only in the next few days when we get from the doctors the verdict of how bad the injuries are then we decide what we’re doing.

“At the moment for me Romain is driving.”

What a shock to the system it was to see my friend and team mate @RGrosjean in this horrible crash today. What a legend he is for making it out of the car, pinned under the guardrails, covered in fire. Hope you have a speedy recovery mate.

— Kevin Magnussen (@KevinMagnussen) November 29, 2020