SAKHIR, Bahrain: Motor racing chiefs announced on Thursday the launch of an investigation into Romain Grosjean’s fiery Bahrain crash, saying the forensic probe would take “around six to eight” weeks to complete.
The French Formula One driver somehow wrenched himself free from his blazing Haas car with just burns to his hands and a broken left foot after a collision with Daniil Kvyat on the first lap of Sunday’s Grand Prix. He left hospital on Wednesday.
In the immediate aftermath of the shocking smash there was widespread praise for modern safety measures in the sport, but also concern over what F1’s motor sport managing director Ross Brawn described as “unpredictable” failures.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said it had “initiated a detailed analysis of Romain Grosjean’s accident at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix.”
The FIA’s safety director, Adam Baker, said: “With so much data available in Formula 1, it allows us to accurately determine every element of what occurred and this work has already begun.
“We take this research very seriously and will follow a rigorous process to find out exactly what happened before proposing potential improvements.”
The FIA probe will look at a range of factors including Grosjean’s helmet, safety harness, headrest, in-car extinguisher and the Halo cockpit protection.
The Halo device is widely considered to have helped save Grosjean’s life as his car was sliced in two after careering into a barrier.
“The ‘halo’ saved the day and it saved Romain,” Brawn said on Sunday.
“There was controversy in developing it initially, but there can’t be any doubt now, so hats off to those who pushed for the introduction.”
But he added: “The fire is worrying. The split in the barrier is worrying and the barrier coming apart, but we can be happy with the safety of the car – that got us through today, but things failed in an unpredictable way.
“We haven’t seen anything like that for a very long time, but the barrier splitting normally results in a fatality.”
At the circuit new safety measures have been introduced to reduce the risk of a repeat crash at this Sunday’s Sakhir Grand Prix.
Two rows of tires wrapped in a conveyor belt have been installed in front of a reconstructed guardrail at the exit of Turn Three.
Several drivers expressed serious concerns at the failure of the barrier and the manner in which it was punctured.
In other changes to the circuit, where this weekend’s Grand Prix will be using the shorter “outer loop’, a kerb has been removed at Turn Nine – which was used as Turn 13 last Sunday – and a tire barrier in the approach to that corner has been extended and enlarged to four rows in depth.
Grosjean left hospital on Wednesday and in an Instagram post he highlighted the professionalism of a marshal with an extinguisher and the FIA doctor in the following Safety Car, who was on the scene very quickly.
“I told him he was a hero,” said Grosjean.
“He went into the fire as much as he could to save me. I felt Ian’s hands pulling me over the barrier and I knew I was safe... life will never be the same again.”
Grosjean is resting and healing from burns at a hotel in Abu Dhabi where he hopes he will be fit enough to race in the season-closing race next weekend.
FIA launches probe into fiery Grosjean crash at Bahrain Grand Prix
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FIA launches probe into fiery Grosjean crash at Bahrain Grand Prix

- The Halo device is widely considered to have helped save Romain Grosjean’s life
Evenepoel abandons Tour de France

“Yesterday was bad, today was worse,” the Olympic champion said
BAGNERES-DE-LUCHON, France: Belgian Remco Evenepoel abandoned the Tour de France on Saturday during the 14th stage, a 182.6-km mountain trek from Pau to Superbagneres.
The Soudal-Quick Step rider, who was third overall, stepped off his bike and entered his team car midway through the ascent of the Col du Tourmalet, the first of four climbs on the day’s menu.
Evenepoel had struggled in recent days, losing time in the first Pyrenean stage and in Friday’s uphill individual time trial.
“Yesterday was bad, today was worse,” the Olympic champion, who won the stage 5 individual time trial, said on Friday.
It got even worse on Saturday as the 25-year-old could not sustain the pace in the gruelling ascent to the Tourmalet (19km at 7.4 percent) as dozens of riders whizzed past him.
After giving his bottle to a child on the side of the road, Evenepoel threw in the towel, a year after finishing third overall on his Tour de France debut.
Pakistan dominate IBSF World Snooker Championship in Bahrain with twin titles

- Veteran Mohmmad Asif beats India’s Brijesh Damani 4-3 in a nail-biting Masters encounter
- Hasnain produces clinical display of cue mastery, sweeping past Riley Powell of Wales 4-0
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday stamped their authority on the global snooker stage as Mohammad Asif and Muhammad Hasnain clinched both the Masters and Under-17 titles after a thrilling finale at the IBSF World Snooker Championship 2025 in Bahrain.
Asif faced a stern test in the World Masters final, going toe-to-toe with India’s Brijesh Damani in a nail-biting encounter. After six fiercely contested frames, the Pakistani star cueist held his nerve in the decider to edge Damani 4-3, clinching yet another major title.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz congratulated Asif on his brilliant win in the Masters category.
“Mohammad Asif has brought pride to Pakistan on the global stage by defeating his Indian opponent through sheer hard work, skill, and determination,” she was quoted as saying by her Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party.

Asif advanced to the final with an impressive 4-2 win over India’s Manan Chandra in the semifinal on Thursday at the Crowne Plaza, Bahrain.
Meanwhile, Hasnain produced a clinical display of cue mastery, sweeping past Riley Powell of Wales 4-0 to seize the World Under-17 Snooker crown.
“The young prodigy remained unshaken throughout, showcasing composure beyond his years to secure the gold,” the IBSF said on its website.

Frustration hangs over WNBA All-Star weekend as players slam latest labor talks

- Players in October voted to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, once seen as a landmark deal for women’s sports
INDIANAPOLIS: Labor negotiations between the WNBA and the players’ union hung over the All-Star weekend on Friday, as a dazzling showcase of the league’s progress kicked off amid frustration from the women on the court in Indianapolis.
The WNBPA admonished the league after their latest meeting on Thursday, saying the WNBA had failed to “address the priorities we’ve voiced from the day we opted out.”
Players in October voted to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, once seen as a landmark deal for women’s sports but now viewed by many players as woefully inadequate amid a surge of popularity in the WNBA.
Swarmed by reporters on Friday as part of a pre-All-Star Game media availability, WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike said she felt the meeting was a missed opportunity.
“Yes, we’re celebrating amazing growth, but I think it’s not lost on us that we’re living the growth as we’re negotiating our worth,” she said. “The fans know what we’re worth. Now we need the league to know what we are worth.”
Reached for comment on Friday, the WNBA pointed to a statement Commissioner Cathy Engelbert provided to the Associated Press on Thursday, calling the meeting “very constructive dialogue.”
Engelbert is expected to meet with members of the media on Saturday for a press conference.
Ogwumike said there had been no direct conversation about a work stoppage but that union leadership cautioned players over the possible outcomes of a failed negotiation.
“What we want to do is negotiate a good deal,” she told reporters.
“But we also wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t let players know, ‘Hey the league is in a different place. We’re in a different place. Just be prepared for anything that can happen’.”
More than 40 players attended the negotiations on Thursday, including star rookie Paige Bueckers from the Dallas Wings, who said it was her first time at the negotiating table.
“It’s been powerful and I think we’re going to continue to fight for that because the proposal that they gave back to us was kind of disrespectful,” she said.
Pacquiao, Barrios make weights for Vegas showdown

- Filipino star and eight-division world champion is returning to the ring after a four-year absence
- Mario Barrios says he is unfazed by the prospect of taking on living legend Pacquiao
LOS ANGELES, United States: Filipino star Manny Pacquiao comfortably made the weight for his comeback world title fight against Mario Barrios on Friday, tipping the scales at just under the 147-pound welterweight limit.
The 46-year-old eight-division world champion – who is returning to the ring after a four-year absence – weighed in at 146.8 lbs during a packed ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Pacquiao’s opponent in Saturday’s fight, reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Barrios, was also inside the weight limit at 146.2 lbs.
“I’m so happy I’m back because boxing is my passion and I missed boxing,” Pacquiao said after making the weight.
The Filipino star – whose last victory came against Keith Thurman in 2019 – is aiming to pull off an upset victory in Saturday’s bout.
Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 knockouts) announced his return to boxing in May, taking advantage of a WBC rule that allows former champions to request a direct title shot when coming out of retirement.
He will be facing the much younger Barrios, who will take a 29-2-1 record in Saturday’s contest.
Barrios, 30, said he was unfazed by the prospect of taking on living legend Pacquiao, who could become the first fighter to win a major world title after being inducted to boxing’s Hall of Fame.
“I’m approaching this the same way I have all my other fights – I treat it as just another title defense,” Barrios said. “Manny has accomplished so much, but it’s my time now.”
Pogacar extends Tour de France lead with dominant time-trial win

- Pogacar was last down the start ramp of the 171 riders setting off and stunned rivals by using a road bike instead of one typically used for time trials
- Saturday’s stage 14 is another punishing affair with around 50km of climbing but it will likely be raced in rain
PEYRAGUDES, France: Tadej Pogacar powered to victory in an uphill time trial on stage 13 of the Tour de France on Friday to stretch his lead in the race to more than four minutes.
Jonas Vingegard and Remco Evenepoel clung on to their places in the overall top three, but this 10.9km time-trial triumph was defending champion Pogacar’s second crushing win in two days.
Pogacar was last down the start ramp of the 171 riders setting off and stunned rivals by using a road bike instead of one typically used for time trials.
“It’s more comfortable and I ride that 95 percent of the year,” he explained. “I went without a radio too, there are time clocks along the way so I just looked at them.”
Decked out in his overall leader’s yellow kit, the 26-year-old Team UAE rider was faster from the off, despite his exertions from the previous day, when he finished over two minutes ahead of main rival Vingegaard.
“I was feeling good all day, from when I got up. I was planning to go all in from start to finish and that’s what I did,” said Pogacar, who won the Tour de France in 2020, 2021 and 2024.
Pogacar had a sticker of the Hulk comic book superhero on his bike but said after the stage his hero was Spider-Man.
“Hulk though, he’s the one you don’t want to make angry,” said Pogacar.
By the time he finished stage 13 at the Peyragudes Altiport where the opening scene of the James Bond movie “Tomorrow Never Dies” was shot, Pogacar was 36 seconds faster than Vingegaard, while Primoz Roglic was third at 1min 20sec.
Evenepoel was overtaken close to the line by Vingegaard, but said he was too tired to care.
“I was drained,” he said, slumped in a chair. “I didn’t give a damn when Jonas went past.”
“I just wanted to finish. To be honest I’m relieved it’s over,” said the double Olympic champion.
Most riders warmed up for the time trial wearing ice jackets to combat the sizzling 30C temperature at the foot of the climb.
Australian champion Luke Plapp set the early pace and sat in the hot seat all day before suddenly packing his case and vacating it on seeing Vingegaard storm up the mountain.
Pogacar was even faster.
At 1580m altitude the ride remained beneath the clouds and below the treeline, but even atop the hill it was punishingly hot.
American Quinn Simmons gave hundreds of high-fives on the home straight as one of the rare riders appearing to enjoy the climb.
Saturday’s stage 14 is another punishing affair with around 50km of climbing but it will likely be raced in rain.
It starts with the famous Col de Tourmalet and ends at the Luchon-Superbagneres ski resort.
Stage 15 is a hilly run to the walled city of Carcassonne but for Pogacar there remains the specter of three more massive mountain stages in the final week.
There is also the prospect of potential chaos in Paris with three ascents of Montmartre’s old cobbled lanes on the final day.