ROMAIN GROSJEAN will miss the final race of the season and his last as an F1 driver.
The Frenchman cheated death in a fiery smash in Bahrain last Sunday and sustained burns to his hands.
The 34-year-old, who is leaving the Haas team at the end of the year, had initially wanted to bring the curtain down on his F1 career by racing in the Abu Dhabi GP.
However, he has decided to fly home to Switzerland to be with his wife and three children and to receive further treatment to his burned hands.
He said: “It is with great sadness that I will not be able to do my final race in Abu Dhabi and be with the team there.
“We’ve tried as much as we could with the doctor to recover and to repair my hand, but the risk of racing is too big for my recovery and my health.
“So, the decision was made that I’m not going to race. It’s one of the hardest decisions of my life, but it’s obviously one of the wisest. I will miss the team, but I will be supporting them as ever.”
Grosjean lost control and drove directly into crash barriers at 140mph after clipping Daniil Kvyat’s car.
His car split in two and was then instantly engulfed by flames as marshals rushed to help the French driver out of the wreckage.
He was trapped in his car for more than 20 seconds after the smash as his visor started melting but incredibly walked away with only burns on his hands and ankles.
The French driver admitted accepting he was going to die after the crash.
But he was saved thanks to the halo cockpit canopy on his F1 car.
The driver was released from hospital on Wednesday and returned to the site of the crash on Thursday, when he was reunited with those who helped him escape.
And Grosjean, with both hands in bandages, stepped up his recovery as he hit the gym on Friday by lifting weights.
But although his F1 career appears to be over, Grosjean suggested he would like to continue racing – and winning races – with the likes of IndyCar and rally possible options.
F1’s strict Covid protocols means that once he leaves Bahrain he will be unable to attend the race in Abu Dhabi.
It means Pietro Fittipaldi will continue to fill in for him alongside team-mate Kevin Magnussen.
Grosjean is now hoping he can secure the loan of an F1 car once his hands have healed to have a final blast around Abu Dhabi in a private track session.
Mercedes have already offered him the use of Lewis Hamilton title-winning car from 2019.
Haas boss Gunther Steiner added: “Romain believed in our Formula One project at the very start, he committed to drive for us before we’d even built a car.
“There is no doubting the determination and sheer effort he has put into helping us to achieve what we have as a young team in Formula One.
“We will forever be grateful for that belief and commitment. It is those qualities, his drive and ambition, that I’m sure will aid him on his recovery.
“On behalf of Gene Haas and myself, together with the whole Haas F1 Team operation, we wish Romain well and a return to full health.”
