Once an outspoken critic of the device, Romain Grosjean has credited the halo protection bar with saving his life in a fiery crash that ripped his car in two on the opening lap of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix.

The Frenchman’s Haas speared through the barriers after careering off the track at high speed, with the force of the impact splitting the car in half and setting it aflame.

Grosjean, who clambered out and limped away from the crash, miraculously escaped with only burns to his hands and was being treated overnight at a nearby hospital.

“Hello everyone, just wanted to say I am okay, well sort of okay,” the 34-year-old, his hand swaddled in bandages but his face smiling, said from his hospital bed in a video posted to his social media.

“I wasn’t for the halo some years ago but I think it’s the greatest thing that we brought to Formula One and without it I wouldn’t be able to speak to you today.”

Formula One introduced the halo, a three-point titanium structure above the front of the cockpit designed to protect drivers’ heads from flying debris, in 2018 and it initially attracted controversy.

Father of three Grosjean, who is out of contract and likely to leave Formula One at the end of the year, was one of those who was against it at the time, terming the day its introduction was announced a “sad day” for the sport.

On Sunday, his gratitude for its existence was echoed by others in the sport.

“There’s absolutely no doubt the halo was the factor that saved the day and saved Romain,” Formula One’s managing director for motorsport Ross Brawn said.

“There was quite a lot of controversy at the time about introducing it and I don’t think anyone now can doubt the validity of that. It was a life-saver today.

“Undoubtedly we’ve got to do a very deep analysis of all the events that occurred because there were a number of things that shouldn’t have happened,” Brawn added.

“The fire was worrying, the split of the barrier was worrying.

“I think the positives are the safety of the car and that’s what got us through today.”

Haas has confirmed Brazilian reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi will step in for Grosjean at the Sakhir Grand Prix on Sunday.

“After it was decided that the best thing for Romain was to skip at least one race, the choice to put Pietro (Fittipaldi) in the car was pretty easy,” Haas team principal Gunther Steiner said.

Fittipaldi is the grandson of two-time Formula One champion Emerson and will make his F1 debut at the Sakhir GP.

Grosjean is expected to be released from the hospital on Tuesday.