- Today’s Formula One and Formula Two races at Silverstone saw two horrific crashes that might have ended in tragedy.
- Both drivers walked away from their cars unharmed thanks to the “Halo” device.
- Halo is a cockpit-fixed safety feature that was introduced to Formula 1 and Formula 2 in 2018.
Today’s Formula One and Formula Two races at Silverstone saw two horrific incidents, both of which, according to experts, should have been fatal if not for a “Halo” device that saved lives.
On Sunday morning’s opening lap at Silverstone, Formula 2 drivers Dennis Hauger and Roy Nissany crashed after Hauger’s car was propelled over the “sausage” kerb and sent flying in Nissany’s direction.
Before both cars came to a stop in the gravel, Hauger’s car ploughed with his adversary at high speed.
Amazingly, both drivers walked away from the incident unharmed, and television replays revealed that Nissany’s life was saved thanks to the Halo, a cockpit-fixed safety feature that was introduced to Formula 1 and Formula 2 in 2018.
Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu was involved in a second first-lap crash in the subsequent Formula One race that was also held at Silverstone. His car flipped many times at high speeds and skidded upside-down across the gravel on top of its Halo device.
After going over a tire barrier once more, Zhou’s vehicle eventually became stuck between a fence and a barrier at the first corner, delaying rescue efforts.
George Russell, one of the drivers involved in the collision, raced to check on the Chinese driver as the race was red-flagged.
Russell was prevented from rejoining the race because his Mercedes was brought back to pit lane while he was attending to Zhou. Russell called it “one of the scariest crashes I’ve ever seen.”
Mercedes objected to the decision, but the FIA stood its ground.
Valtteri Bottas, Zhou’s teammate, originally attested to the fact that his friend was speaking, awake, and free of fractures.
Alfa Romeo reported that after examinations, he had been discharged from the circuit’s medical facility.
Later, Zhou expressed gratitude to the supporters.
He stated: “I’m fine, no problems. Today, Halo saved me. We appreciate all of your wonderful words, everyone!”
After Nissany and Hauger’s collision, F1 journalist Chris Medland tweeted: “Nissany’s life was definitely saved by the Halo. 100 percent.”
Tom Gaymor, an F1 commentator, said: “Thank goodness for the Halo, unmistakably the savior yet again.”
The Halo is a safety shield that helps keep big things and other debris out of the cockpit of a single-seat racing car.
It has drawn criticism for allegedly destroying the “purity” of a single-seat, open-cockpit racing vehicle.
Others have argued that it can obstruct a driver’s ability to rapidly exit the vehicle. This hasn’t been a problem in practice.
After he and bitter rival Max Verstappen collided during the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton said the Halo saved his life.
The rear-right wheel of Verstappen’s Red Bull car crashed with the top of Hamilton’s Mercedes after it veered out of control and into his path.
Later, Hamilton stated: “Today, I feel incredibly blessed. God is good because the Halo rescued my neck and myself.”
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