Romain Grosjean
A Formula 1 driver who walked away from a fiery, split-second crash that became one of the sport's most miraculous survival stories.
Born 1986 (age 40)·French and Swiss racing driver·Birthday: April 17·Millennials
Biography
Romain Grosjean's racing career is forever defined by a 28-second inferno at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix. Before that moment, he was known as a fast but sometimes erratic driver, a ten-year F1 veteran with ten podium finishes but no wins, whose passion was as evident as his speed. The crash, where his car pierced a barrier and exploded, should have been fatal. His escape, with severe burns to his hands, was nothing short of miraculous. That resilience became his hallmark. He returned to racing not in F1, but in IndyCar, instantly competitive and earning a pole position in his first season. His second act in American motorsports, now in sports cars, is a testament to a driver reborn, competing with the same fiery spirit but a profoundly changed perspective.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Romain was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Romain Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Romain's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Secured ten podium finishes during his decade-long career in Formula One, driving for teams like Lotus and Haas.
- Made a remarkable return to top-level racing in the IndyCar Series after his 2020 crash, earning a pole position at the 2021 Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.
- Competed in the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans with a top-tier Hypercar team, finishing on the podium in the LMP2 class in 2023.
- Won multiple championships in junior formulae, including the 2007 Formula 3 Euro Series and the 2011 GP2 Series (now F2).
Did You Know?
He holds dual French and Swiss citizenship and has competed under both flags in different series.
He is a trained pastry chef and even published a cookbook titled "Grosjean: Recipes of a Pastry Chef."
The halo cockpit safety device, which was instrumental in saving his life in Bahrain, had a visible dent from the impact with the barrier.
He named his IndyCar "Lucky" as a tribute to his survival.
“I saw death coming. I accepted it. I said, 'I'm going to die.' And then something pulled me back.”
