Romain Grosjean's car explodes into a fireball after 140mph crash that split his car in HALF... but he miraculously walks away with burns and broken ribs before being airlifted to a nearby hospital

 

• Romain Grosjean's car burst into flames after a horror crash at the Bahrain GP that split his vehicle in two
• The French driver smashed into a barrier at 140mph and the car exploded into a fireball in shocking scenes
• Grosjean was miraculously able to walk away from the crash and suffered burns and broken ribs

Formula One driver Romain Grosjean had a miraculous escape after his car exploded into a fireball in a horrific 140mph crash that split the vehicle in two at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

In shocking footage, the Frenchman's car hit the wall, sending him through the barriers as TV cameras cut away and the race was stopped. 

Despite the horrific crash, Grosjean was able to walk away before being airlifted to hospital after suffering burns and broken ribs. 

A replay showed Grosjean frantically leaping out of the inferno with the aid of a medical doctor before scampering to safety. 

Incredibly another crash took place only moments after the race started for a second time, involved Russian driver Daniil Kyvat, the man involved in the Grosjean incident. 

Lance Strol's car was flipped upside down, though the Canadian reported that he was okay and managed to free himself.  

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The Frenchman's car hit the wall at 53G and promptly burst into flames in sickening fashionHe was helped into an ambulance by marshals and limped as he did so. He suffered minor burns to his hands and ankles. It is also suspected that Grosjean has sustained broken ribs.

Grosjean has been taken to the BDF Military Hospital for further treatment, the FIA confirmed.

It is unusual for a Formula One car to self-combust and it remains unclear precisely what happened – though he collided with Daniil Kvyat before hurtling off at the third corner of the first lap. TV replays later showed him scrambling out of the car as marshals sprayed the scene to douse the flames. Grosjean spent 26 seconds in total inside the wreckage of his vehicle.

It was a remarkable accident and part of his car penetrated the barrier and a stray wheel jumped over the wall. 

Having travelled through the barriers, he climbed to safety by hurdling the wall and returning on the trackside.  

Footage seen after the incident revealed that Grosjean had moved to the right of the track before clipping the front wheel of Kyvat's AlphaTauri car. The Frenchman then lost control and careered straight into the wall. Lewis Hamilton, who started the race in pole position, was seen shaking his head after watching a replay of the collision. 

He soon took to Twitter and wrote: 'I'm so grateful Romain is safe. Wow... the risk we take is no joke, for those of you out there that forget that we put our life on the line for this sport and for what we love to do. 

'Thankful to the FIA for the massive strides we've taken for Romain to walk away from that safely.' 

Shaken Haas team principal Guenther Steiner told Sky Sports: '[Grosjean] is doing OK. He has light burns on hands and ankles. Obviously he is shaking and going through all the checks but he's fine. 'He's seems to be OK and the rescue was very quick. The marshals and FIA did a great job. It was very scary.

'We were lucky by being unlucky. He got a way with it I think.

'It looked like he went across the track with the front wheel and went full speed in the barrier. But I've only seen what you guys have seen.'