Romain Grosjean spent three nights in hospital after terrifying crash at Bahrain Grand Prix; Haas driver will continue treatment for burns in private; Pietro Fittipaldi will race in Grosjean's place this weekend
Wednesday 2 December 2020 08:51, UK
Romain Grosjean has been discharged from hospital in Bahrain and will continue treatment for the burns suffered on the back of his hands in private.
The Haas driver spent three nights at the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) Hospital after a horrifying accident at the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend.
Grosjean crashed heavily into barriers on the first lap of Sunday's race - with his Haas car then ripped in half and bursting into flames - but has avoided major injuries despite spending almost half a minute trapped in the inferno.
Speaking in a video posted from hospital on Tuesday, Grosjean said he was "getting better and better" and just "happy to be alive".
He posted a further update on his burns on Twitter on Wednesday, showing some of the dressing removed and saying: "Almost cried. A victory on my way to recovery."
In a statement on Wednesday, Haas said: "Grosjean will continue private treatment for the burns suffered on the back of his hands and will remain in Bahrain for the time being.
"On behalf of Romain Grosjean and the entire Haas F1 Team we extend our thanks to all who have tended to him at the BDF Hospital."
Brazilian driver Pietro Fittipaldi will race in place of Grosjean for this weekend's second race in Bahrain, but the Frenchman is not ruling out a return for the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP next week to ensure that the accident "isn't the way I finish my F1 career".
The season finale was already scheduled to be his last race for Haas and, most likely, in F1 altogether after 10 seasons with no contract for 2021.
Nikita Mazepin was confirmed as the first of the confirmed Haas drivers for 2021, signing a multi-year deal with the US team on Tuesday.
Mazepin, third in the Formula 2 standings, will be joined by Mick Schumacher, the leader of the championship ahead of the final round in Bahrain this weekend.
Haas, who are ninth in the championship after another tough season, are going young with their driver line-up for next year having had Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen in their cars since 2017.
Mazepin, the Russian 21-year-old, has had F1 tests in the past with Mercedes and Racing Point, while he finished second in the 2018 GP3 series before two seasons in F2.
