French Formula One driver Romain Grosjean said he thought of Niki Lauda’s fiery crash and willed himself to get out of his burning Haas for the sake of his children, as he “saw death coming” after his accident in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

“I saw my visor all orange, the flames around me, and the accident of Niki Lauda came to mind. I didn’t want to end up like that,” the 34-year-old father of three told TF1 and LCI from his Bahrain hospital room in an interview reproduced on the French broadcasters’ websites.

“I had to get out, for my children. I saw death coming, I had no other option but to get out of there,” added Grosjean. He said the accident felt like a “rebirth”.

Grosjean, who is set to be discharged from hospital on Wednesday after spending an extra night there, is set to leave Formula One next season. He will be replaced by Haas reserve Pietro Fittipaldi for the upcoming Sakhir Grand Prix.