Yesterday, I felt an indescribable sinking feeling in my gut.
I was watching the start of the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, and in the first lap, Romain Grosjean—a driver for the Haas Team—ran into a barrier at 220kph and at a suspected force of 53G.
Whilst his car ripped in half and exploded into a ball of flames, Grosjean remained inside the car’s Survival Cell—a carbon fibre cocoon designed to protect the driver in the event of a serious crash.
Miraculously, despite the Survival Cell being wedged into the broken barrier, and Grosjean being engulfed in flames for more than 20 seconds, he remained conscious, was able to pull himself out of the wreckage (with the help of the brave medical staff), and walked away with only minor burns on his hands.
An unbelievable outcome considering the circumstances.
Often, “that sinking feeling” is followed by heartache and sadness, but I’m grateful that wasn’t the case today, and that Grosjean will return to his wife and 3 children.