Formula One’s Zhou Guanyu escapes horror British Grand Prix crash

Chinese Formula One driver Zhou Guanyu has emerged unharmed from a high-speed crash during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone early this morning (AEST), as part of a five-car crash at the first corner.

Seconds after the race start, Zhou’s Alfa Romeo collided with another car and flipped, before sliding 180 metres upside down into a tyre barrier, flipping upwards into the metal fence, and coming to a halt on its side between the barriers.

Zhou was taken to the circuit’s medical centre on a stretcher, yet despite the severity of the crash – and much the car’s roll hoop disintegrating soon after the initial roll-over – the Chinese driver was uninjured, and released hours later.

The ‘halo’ safety device – the T-shaped roll bar stretching over the driver’s head, first introduced in F1 in 2018 – is largely attributed to Zhou’s survival, seen carrying the car’s weight as it slides upside down along the tarmac and gravel – instead of the driver’s head.

“It was a big crash and I’m glad I’m OK,” Zhou said in a statement published by Alfa Romeo.

“The marshals and the medical team at the track were fantastic with their quick response, and I also owe my thanks to the FIA [the sport’s governing body] and Formula One for all the work they have done, and they keep doing, to improve the safety of our cars,” he continued.

“The Halo saved me today, and it goes to show that every step we take in improving our cars has real, valuable results. I’m keener than ever to get back on track and do what I love: I’m fit and I’m looking forward to Austria next week.”

Race replays show French AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly’s front right wheel touch the rear-left wheel of British driver George Russell, causing Russell’s Mercedes to veer left and collide with the side of Zhou’s Alfa Romeo, flipping it.

A related incident saw Germany’s Sebastian Vettel collide with the rear of Thai-British driver Alex Albon’s Williams, bouncing him off the wall and back in the path of Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri).

No penalties were handed out for the Lap One incidents.

These Silverstone incidents over the weekend are the latest showcasing the safety benefits of the head-protecting halo device, introduced to F1 in 2018, and its F2 and F3 support categories in successive years.

French F1 racer Romain Grosjean walked away from a fiery 54G crash in Bahrain late last year, in which his Haas tore a hole in an Armco barrier at 220km/h, splitting the car in half and rupturing its fuel cell.

Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton and current Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc have been able to attribute the halo to their survival in a crash each since 2018, after other cars landed on their halos.

Images of Zhou’s car via: F1.com, Getty Images.