F1 driver Romain Grosjean once said the safety feature that he credits with saving his life in his horror-crash had 'no place' in the sport

• Formula One driver Romain Grosjean has credited the "halo" safety device in his car with saving his life after his horror crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
• Before the device's introduction in 2018, Grosjean said that it had "no place" in the sport.
• The "halo" – a bar extending around the cockpit designed to protect drivers' heads in accidents – was made mandatory in all Formula One cars in 2018.
• "I wasn't for the halo some years ago but I think it's the greatest thing we've brought to Formula One and without it, I wouldn't be able to speak to you today," Grosjean said on Sunday after his crash.

Formula One driver Romain Grosjean has credited the "halo" safety device in his car with saving his life after his horror crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Previously, however, he said the device had "no place" in the sport.

Grosjean's car split in half and burst into flames on the first lap of Sunday's race after he crashed with the steel barrier. He was flown immiediately to hospital, where he is currently being treated for burns to the backs of both hands.

Speaking from a hospital bed on Instagram later the same day, the Frenchman said: "I wasn't for the halo some years ago, but I think it's the greatest thing we've brought to Formula One and without it, I wouldn't be able to speak to you today."

A post shared by Romain Grosjean (@grosjeanromain)

The "halo" — a titanium bar extending around the cockpit designed to protect drivers' heads in accidents – was made mandatory in all Formula One cars in 2018.

Alongside other drivers including Max Verstappen and Kevin Magnussen, Grosjean apossed the halo's introduction because it reduced visibility from the cock pit and added weight to the car.

Speaking in 2017 when the device was being tested, Grosjean told Crash: "Personally I think it is a sad day for Formula One when it was announced. I am still against it, I still don't think it has a place in Formula One."

Lewis Hamilton, who finished first in Sakhir, agreed that the halo saved Grosjean's life.

"It was such a shocking image to see," he said.

"When I get in the car I know that I'm taking risks and I respect the dangers that are in this sport. It's horrifying. I don't know what Gs [forces] he pulled but I'm so grateful that the halo worked, I'm grateful that the barrier didn't slice his head up or something like that. It could have been so much worse.

"But it's a reminder to us and hopefully the people that are watching that this is a dangerous sport and that is why we are out there pushing to the limit and playing with that limit, but you also have to respect it."

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