Romain Grosjean escapes injury as loose drain causes crash during second practice for Malaysian Grand Prix
The French driver’s accident ends session early as Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas struggle
French driver Romain Grosjean escaped without injury after clipping a loose drain and flying into the crash barriers in the second practise for the Malaysian Grand Prix on Friday.
His tyre shredded on impact, catapulting him at full speed from one side of the track to the other. It ended the session with 20 minutes left and, moments later, race director Charlie Whiting and another official from motorsport governing body FIA inspected the damage. It was a spectacular incident but without consequence.
Grosjean climbed out of his Haas car unharmed, and was even able to talk about it pretty calmly moments later.
“I didn’t see anything. Next thing I knew I was spinning and heading for the wall,” he said. “I am fine, that is the most important thing.”
But it could have been much more serious, with images showing the drain cover sticking up at an angle before Grosjean clipped it.
“It was on the racing line and I had a big hit and impact on rear right. I was spinning and heading to the wall,” Grosjean said, after reviewing footage. “They need to sort things out, it is a shame. Hopefully we find a good set-up for tomorrow and the drains stay in place.”
