2020 Bahrain Grand Prix Race Thread

[Steve_muzzy]

I am struggling to comprehend how bad that could have been, 5 years ago Romain is dead. Medical car following the pack is so important and the Halo just saved a life.

[F1_Ernie]

Watching the race in real time I thought there was something wrong with the car but it was Grosjean

[Asphalt_World]

Year on year they improve safety in F1 and year on year we all read comments on forums and other places from certain fans, moaning that the sport is safe enough. This was especially so regarding the halo.

Whilst I have no proof, I don't think it's a big claim to say that if the car was from around 5 years ago, we may have had a death on our hands.

[Invade]

This race won't be restarted any time soon. Minimum 45 minutes.

[j man]

That is a damn miracle he's alive. Unthinkable when you look at the aftermath.

[F1Tyrant]

Will the race run to the two hour limit now?

[mikeyg123]

Will the race run to the two hour limit now?

They have a four hour window to get the raced finish.

[Alienturnedhuman]

Year on year they improve safety in F1 and year on year we all read comments on forums and other places from certain fans, moaning that the sport is safe enough. This was especially so regarding the halo.

Whilst I have no proof, I don't think it's a big claim to say that if the car was from around 5 years ago, we may have had a death on our hands.

Any pre 2018 car would have killed the driver. The survival cell detached from the rest of the car and went through the Armco like a bullet. The halo punched the hole, so a pre 2017 car would have decapitated him.

[purchville]

Shocking shunt. Hats off to the marshals and first responders. Dealt with it within seconds . Glad he is ok despite some burns. Brings back some awful memories .

[mikeyg123]

I'm not at all happy to see some (not all) marshalls standing about 15 meters away, holding fire extinguishers but doing nothing whilst the medical car crew rushed over.

[Fiki]

Hate to say it but that’s very Spa 2012 from Grosjean. Glad he’s okay but once again a huge lack of awareness of other traffic.

From a quick replay, it seems to me he is making room for the Alfa-Sauber to rejoin, and avoiding it, while the cars ahead seem to slow down a bit. If that's the case, then misjudging the room available between Magnussen and Kvyat can be understood.

[da4an1qu1]

I think I read that Grosrean bristled at Tost's suggestion of a drivers salary cap, saying that F1 drivers are the one's risking their lives. If so... that he would be the one to have a crash that so starkly reminds all of that is.... at the very least eery

[TheGiantHogweed]

The latest clips of footage are simply shocking to watch. It is very upsetting to watch.

[mikeyg123]

Year on year they improve safety in F1 and year on year we all read comments on forums and other places from certain fans, moaning that the sport is safe enough. This was especially so regarding the halo.

Whilst I have no proof, I don't think it's a big claim to say that if the car was from around 5 years ago, we may have had a death on our hands.

Any pre 2018 car would have killed the driver. The survival cell detached from the rest of the car and went through the Armco like a bullet. The halo punched the hole, so a pre 2017 car would have decapitated him.

Hard to speculate but the cockpit sides were above the drivers neck so it would have been a hit around eye height. The drivers welfare would depend on the protection offered by the helmet.

Halo certainly could well have saved his life.

[Schermerhorn]

If Grosjean has broken ribs, no way is he coming back and driving an F1 car again

[Bacus]

That was a horrific accident, such a relief he got away.

I don't have much knowledge in safety measures, but wouldn't be better there with a shock-absorbing barrier, how is it called? or a few rows of tyres. Certainly then the car wouldn't enter through barrier and split in half.

[F1Tyrant]

Karun eagle eye spots debris hitting Grosjeams car.

[Invade]

It was utterly surreal to see the monocoque wedged into the now scythed railing and to think the driver escaped tragedy.


Flabbergasting.

[Option or Prime]

So that settles the "you can drive with harness unbuckled argument" then. No harness and its a tragedy!

[TheGiantHogweed]

not sure if it related or not, but from what Chanhok has shown, something flew of Stroll's car and Grosjean letrally ran over it with his front right tyre right before his sudden right turn.Though the right turn still looked intentional, but this footage is interesting.

[F1Tyrant]

How has he not experienced a fatal g-force in that crash? He slowed to zero in about 3 metres...

[UnlikeUday]

The hole in the barrier reminded me so much of the darn '72 & '73 accidents at Watkins Glen.

When I saw the crash happen, I was fearing the worst mainly because of the huge fireball. It's a good thing Grosjean was conscious so he could immediately unbuckle & escape!

[da4an1qu1]

Why does the medical car look like it's dropped it's coolant??? They had shots of it parked, and sky commentators were discussing that it had been checked. But they didn't seem to notice the coloured liquid which appears to have spilt from it. Which I speculate is coolant

[Banana Man]

Karun eagle eye spots debris hitting Grosjeams car.

I don’t think that was a major factor in the accident. He moved right, presumably to avoid the Alpha Romeo, but didn’t see Kvyat on his right.

[F1Tyrant]

The hole in the barrier reminded me so much of the darn '72 & '73 accidents at Watkins Glen.

Yeah, spoke with a mate about Cevert's fatal crash that decapitated him. This was head on though whereas Cevert's was at 90 degrees.

[F1_Ernie]

Grosjean moved a sharp right instead of backing off, Chandhok was just trying to find a good reason for it because it was a wierd move.

[pokerman]

How has he not experienced a fatal g-force in that crash? He slowed to zero in about 3 metres...

In that respect I was wondering how he didn't get knocked out, thank god he didn't he would have been burned alive.

[TheGiantHogweed]

So another good start from Stroll partly ruined by Vettel and Leclerc, though they all probably played a part.

[Fiki]

Karun eagle eye spots debris hitting Grosjeams car.

I don’t think that was a major factor in the accident. He moved right, presumably to avoid the Alpha Romeo, but didn’t see Kvyat on his right.

Which makes me wonder whether a driver's peripheral vision isn't too restricted in the quest for crash protection. Perhaps some crashes happen because of the passive safety improvements?

[JN23]

Thank goodness Grosjean seems to only have minor injuries. Incredible that he walked away from that, and a good job as he probably wouldn’t have survived if he couldn’t.

On a slightly different note, what was Kvyat doing back there? I thought he qualified in the top 10, grid penalty for something?

[Fiki]

Grosjean moved a sharp right instead of backing off, Chandhok was just trying to find a good reason for it because it was a wierd move.

Look at the speed of the car that passes just after Grosjean hit the other car's front tyre. A driver has to take advantage of other drivers' problems. Whether that instinctive reaction pays off is another matter, but I sincerely doubt Chandhok was looking for excuses. (And I didn't hear or see what he said/saw.)

[pokerman]

Safety car driver saying without the safety measures in place, including the seat belts, Grosjean would probably have been killed, over to you Masi.

[BMWSauber84]

What a relief he's ok. I can't see this race starting again.

[Harpo]

Karun eagle eye spots debris hitting Grosjeams car.

I don’t think that was a major factor in the accident. He moved right, presumably to avoid the Alpha Romeo, but didn’t see Kvyat on his right.

It looks to me that it all started with something going wrong on the McLaren (cars slowing in front of Grosjean, debris and all...)

[TheGiantHogweed]

bottas, kvyat and russell seemed to be the big losers in the start of this race.

[Banana Man]

Karun eagle eye spots debris hitting Grosjeams car.

I don’t think that was a major factor in the accident. He moved right, presumably to avoid the Alpha Romeo, but didn’t see Kvyat on his right.

It looks to me that it all started with something going wrong on the McLaren (cars slowing in front of Grosjean, debris and all...)

Stroll chopped across the front of Norris and broke his front wing, that bunched everyone up behind.

[Banana Man]

bottas, kvyat and russell seemed to be the big losers in the start of this race.

I can think of a bigger loser.

[Pest44]

If the race does restart wouldn’t they be better doing a rolling start instead of standing restart so there’s less chance of something like that happening again.

Turns 1,2 and 3 are asking for trouble in the mid pack

[mpls2]

"On a slightly different note, what was Kvyat doing back there? I thought he qualified in the top 10, grid penalty for something?"

Probably lost positions, bad start ?
Despite that what was Romain doing swerving across Kyvat ?
broken csr? lost his steering ? or simply driver error?

He is lucky to be stil alive and glad to see he is ok!

[TheGiantHogweed]

bottas, kvyat and russell seemed to be the big losers in the start of this race.

I can think of a bigger loser.

I'm not discussing Grosjean under these circumstances in terms of how good or bad his start was. If I had to say, then his start wasn't as bad as the 3 i mentioned relating specifically to losing places off the line. Bottas, kvyat and Russell bogged down it seemed.