Haas chief Komatsu recalls disbelief at Grosjean's miraculous 2020 Bahrain GP survival

Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu has opened up about the traumatic 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, where he watched his friend and driver Romain Grosjean survive a horrific, fiery crash. In a raw recollection, Komatsu admits he initially believed it was impossible for Grosjean to be alive after his car split in half and was engulfed in flames.

Why it matters:

Grosjean’s crash remains one of the most shocking incidents in modern F1 history, a visceral testament to the sport's inherent danger. Komatsu’s personal account, from the perspective of a team leader and close friend, underscores the profound human impact beyond the engineering and safety lessons learned. It highlights the emotional toll on the close-knit team personnel who witness such events firsthand.

The details:

• Komatsu, then Haas's trackside engineering director, described the moment of realization on the pit wall. "The minute I realised it was Romain, obviously I'm thinking ‘he cannot be alive’. He's my friend, you know? He's my racing driver, but he's my friend," he shared, his voice trembling during the podcast recount.
• He did not see Grosjean escape on the broadcast. Confirmation came only when a race engineer shouted over the intercom, "Romain’s out."
• A Necessary Verification: Even after seeing the escape on TV, Komatsu needed physical proof. He rushed to the medical center before Grosjean was airlifted to the hospital. "I just still couldn't comprehend that he's alive. I just wanted to - I needed to see him in my own eyes," he said, noting Grosjean gave him a thumbs up.
• The Chilling Aftermath: The chassis was later returned to the team. Komatsu recalled the overwhelming smell of burning butyl rubber and the sobering sight of the destroyed survival cell. "You cannot imagine somebody can come out of this alive," he stated.
• Trapped Foot: He revealed a harrowing detail: Grosjean's racing shoe was still stuck behind the pedal. The driver had to pull himself back down into the burning cockpit to gain leverage to free his trapped left foot before hauling himself out, putting his hand in the flames on the halo to push off.

What's next:

Romain Grosjean sustained burns to his hands but walked away from the 67G impact. He made a full recovery and transitioned to a successful career in IndyCar, where he now serves as a reserve driver for Prema Racing. The burned chassis is preserved and displayed at the Formula 1 Exhibition in Vienna, a permanent monument to the safety advances that saved his life and the moment that forever changed the perspectives of those involved.