Halo by name.....

This is the aftermath of a high-speed crash during the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The picture shows the front end of Roman Grosjean's Haas car embedded in the barrier.

The size of the impact was recorded at 53G.

He swerved across the track trying to get position when he clipped Daniel Kvyat's Alpha Tauri car and hit the barrier near head-on at upwards of 140mph. The barrier split the car in two from just behind where the driver sits. The rear section spun off to the side but the front wedged in the barrier causing an instantaneous fireball not seen in F1 for a good number of years. The fuel tank sits in the centre of the car along with a fuel run-off tank. The size of the fire suggests the main tank was ruptured and given these are kevlar reinforced racing fuel tanks, gives you an appreciation of how violent the impact was. These cars are also hybrids. Running underneath the chassis are batteries which churn out another 160hp of electrical energy.

As this was a first lap incident, the F1 medical car just happened to be on circuit, as is customary at the start of an F1 race, and was on scene instantly. Romain was able to extract himself after 18 seconds after impact, which considering the position of the car and the engulfing fire, that is seriously quick.

It happened next to a marshall station so people were on scene immediately to put out the fire. Romain was treated trackside by the doctor positioned in the F1 medical car.

Several seasons ago, a new 'Halo' system was introduced to F1 as a safety measure to protect the drivers exposed head after several near misses. It came with a little controversy as people complained it ruined the aesthetics of the cars. After today, that argument has well and truly been quashed. Without the Halo, Romain's head and crash helmet would of taken the brunt of the impact from the barrier.

After Romain was treated at the trackside, he was flown to a local hospital for treatment.

He suffered burns to his wrists and ankles where fireproof racing gloves and boots meet his fireproof racing overalls and several broken ribs. Again, considering how violent the crash was, the strides taken by motorsports governing body, FIA, has probably saved this drivers life. Probably a lot of luck played its part too

Wishing him a speedy recovery.

Edit: Since original post, turns out no broken ribs, only bruising.

I have also removed a sentence i have since learned to be incorrect. Forgive me, I am but a mere man. It happens.