On 29 November 2020, Formula 1 returned to Bahrain for a rescheduled Grand Prix unlike any other. Originally planned for March, the race was moved to late November due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and held behind closed doors—except for invited local health workers who, after months on the front line, were given the rare chance to watch live racing. What nobody expected was that they would witness one of the most shocking and unforgettable incidents in modern Formula 1 history.
Just moments after the start lights went out, the world watched in horror as Romain Grosjean’s Haas pierced through the barriers in a violent fireball. The car sliced in half and instantly ignited, its survival cell buried between twisted guardrails as flames engulfed the scene. The crash halted the Bahrain Grand Prix for 80 minutes and triggered a frantic rescue operation. Against the odds, Grosjean emerged alive, climbing out of the inferno with the assistance of FIA medical staff. He survived with second-degree burns to his hands—injuries that forced him to miss the final races of the season and, ultimately, marked his final Formula 1 appearance before his move to the IndyCar Series in 2021.
The incident became a defining moment for F1’s modern safety era, vindicating years of development in cockpit protection—from the halo device to advanced fireproof gear. Images of Grosjean leaping from the flames, his racing suit charred but intact, were seen across the world, reminding fans and drivers alike of the sport’s ever-present danger.
When racing eventually resumed, the focus shifted back to competition, but the paddock remained visibly shaken. Lewis Hamilton, driving for Mercedes, delivered a masterclass from pole position, taking victory ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon. It was Hamilton’s final win of the 2020 season, capping an already dominant campaign in which he secured his seventh world title.
The Bahrain Grand Prix also marked the beginning of a unique double-header at the Bahrain International Circuit. One week later, the track’s outer “Sakhir” layout would host a second race—an event won by Sergio Pérez in a dramatic comeback, followed by a season-closing victory from Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi.
But no result, statistic, or championship point would overshadow what happened on that November afternoon. The 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix will forever be remembered not for the podium, but for the miracle of Romain Grosjean—a day when Formula 1 stared disaster in the face and, remarkably, walked away.
