Image Credits - Beyond the flag
F1 fans on social media were quick to praise the halo on the Alfa Romeo car which potentially saved Zhou Guanyu’s life at the British GP on Sunday.
Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu was involved in a frightening first-lap crash at the British GP on Sunday. The 23-year-old’s car tipped over in the first corner after a clash with George Russell’s Mercedes and then flew towards the crash barriers before stopping between the catch fencing and tyre wall.
The race was red-flagged immediately after Zhou’s crash but the driver escaped without any injuries. And it was primarily due to the halo on the car that the Chinese driver was able to escape unharmed. But we may have been expecting the worst for Zhou had the halo not been on the Alfa Romeo at the British GP this weekend.
Zhou also later took to Twitter to admit that it was in fact the halo that ‘saved his life’ at the weekend. Barring a halo on the Alfa Romeo, Zhou may not have survived the crash given the impact on his car after it was flipped and scraped against the tarmac.
F1 fans on social media were also quick to praise the titanium halo on the F1 cars, which have been mandatory since 2018. The Halo forms protection around the driver’s cockpit. Although it was initially met with some criticism from drivers, most of them have since credited the invention for preventing serious injuries.
Follow our dedicated Formula One page for instant Formula One news and updates