Romain Grosjean withdraws from Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after crash injuries fail to heal in time

French driver, who will retire from F1 at the end of the season, escaped from a fireball crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner and Romain Grosjean in the paddock before final practice ahead of the Sakhir Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit on Saturday. Getty

Haas F1 driver Romain Grosjean has confirmed he will not recover from his Bahrain Grand Prix crash injuries in time to compete in the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi.

Grosjean, 34, miraculously escaped from his burning car during last week's grand prix when his car penetrated a steel barrier at 137mph, split in two, and burst into flames during the most dramatic accident of recent F1 memory.

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The Frenchman managed to sustain only minor burns to his hands and was released from the Bahrain Defence Force Hospital on Wednesday.

Grosjean, who was already due to retire from the sport at the end of the season after being dropped by Haas, was hopeful he would bow out with one final appearance at the Etihad Airways Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

But in a video on Twitter, he said: “I have left a lot of time for the doctor to discuss, but for my health and safety it is better I don’t take the risk to race in Abu Dhabi. It is a very difficult decision but it is the best one for my future.

“Hopefully I will now work on what is coming next, where am I going to go racing, where am I going to go winning races!

“I would like to thank everyone for the messages, the support and the love. It has been incredible to see in such a difficult time.”

A crash investigation has been launched by the FIA, with the governing body confirming earlier this week that it will take as long as two months before the findings are made public.

Update for you ❤#r8g pic.twitter.com/dBLE7ZSzcA
— Romain Grosjean (@RGrosjean) December 6, 2020

F1 has remained in Bahrain for the penultimate round of the campaign. A different configuration, already scheduled before Grosjean’s accident, is being used for the Sakhir Grand Prix with a number of safety changes made to the circuit.

Two rows of tyres have been put in place at Turn 3, the scene of Grosjean’s crash, while the damaged barrier has also been fully replaced. The tyre barrier at Turn 9 has increased in depth to four rows.

The kerb between Turns 8 and 9 has also been removed after Lance Stroll was launched airborne by Daniil Kvyat in last Sunday’s dramatic race.

Haas confirmed back in October Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen would leave at the end of the season. The two drivers have since been replaced by Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher, the son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher. Both Mazepin and Schumacher are stepping up from Formula Two.