SAKHIR, Bahrain – Haas F1 Team driver Romain Grosjean escaped serious injury after a harrowing crash on the opening lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix Sunday at Bahrain Int’l Circuit.

Grosjean, who started 19th, attempted to slip between his Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen and the AlphaTauri of Daniil Kvyat in the opening corners of the race.

However, Grosjean’s Haas was clipped by Kvyat’s car, which sent Grosjean careening into a barrier on the right side of the track.

Grosjean’s Haas impacted the barrier just past turn three head on, with the impact ripping the car in half and causing fuel to spill from his car. The spilling fuel immediately burst into a massive fireball.

Safety officials were on site almost immediately as the red flag waved to stop the race.

Miraculously, Grosjean emerged from the flames and climbed over the barrier with the help of safety officials to escape the burning carcass of his race car.

Once the flames were put out, it was revealed that the front portion of Grosjean’s car had become embedded in the barrier.

Guenther Steiner, the team principal of the Haas F1 Team, confirmed in the aftermath of the crash that Grosjean suffered minor burns to his hands and ankles. Team officials later confirmed he would be taken to a local hospital to be checked for potential broken ribs.

“Romain is doing OK. I don’t want to make a medical comment, but he had light burns on his hands and ankles,” Steiner said during the race broadcast. “Obviously he’s shaken … I want to thank the rescue crews who are very quick. The marshals and FIA people, they did a great job. It was scary.”

STEINER: “Romain is doing okay, I don’t want to make a medical comment but he had light burns on his hands and ankles. Obviously he’s shaken… I want to thank the rescue crews who are very quick. The marshals and FIA people they did a great job, it was scary”#BahrainGP ?? pic.twitter.com/lWbZd17ynw

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 29, 2020