Five Times The Halo Has Saved A Formula Driver From Serious Injury

After years of researching ways to increase cockpit safety, FIA introduced the Halo cockpit system in 2018. This measure came about after identifying that the driver's head is an area of vulnerability. Many fatal accidents in the circuit have pushed FIA to introduce this safety measure.

Though many teams resisted the use of Halo due to concerns about aesthetics, FIA didn't shy away from mandating it. Here are five instances when Halo proved to be a life-saver!

Tadasuke Makino

This happened shortly after the halo was introduced in Formula 2 at the 2018 Championship. Japanese drivers Tadasuke Makino and Nirei Fukuzumi were close at Turn 4 and made contact. This collision ended in Fukuzumi's car pitching into the air and crashing on top of Makino's vehicle. The Halo in Makino's car bore the brunt of car's weight even as the rear wheel of the other car came to rest directly on top of it. Had it not been for the Halo, the wheel would have hit Makino´s helmet.

Photo Credit: www.autosport.com

Alex Peroni

Australian youngster Alex Peroni thanks the halo safety system for safeguarding him at the Monza in Formula 3 2019 Championship. The driver hit the sausage curb towards the exit. This crash looked like it was straight out of a computer game.

Despite his car landing upside down, Peroni could survive the accident. Though he went back home with a broken vertebra, he thanks the halo system for saving him from more significant injuries. 

Photo Credit: www.wallpaperflare.com

Charles Leclerc

Leclerc was competing with Alfa Romeo Sauber in 2018 Formula One Championship when he found himself in an unfortunate incident. Fernando Alonso's flying McLaren was hit by Nico Hulkenberg's Renault, which later hit Charles Leclerc's car. The incident would have been deadly for Leclerc without the halo system. Leclerc claims that the Halo helped him escape severe injuries in an interview.

Lewis Hamilton

Everyone remembers the crash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in the 2021 Italian Grand Prix. At first, the incident didn't seem too severe.

However, a detailed analysis of the incident reveals that Halo played a vital role to control the situation. The rear wheel of Max's car was rotating across the top of Hamilton's helmet and Halo. The wheels pushed down Hamilton's helmet. But the Halo prevented a worse outcome.

Romain Grosjean

The fiery crash at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix involving Romain Grosjean was one of the most dramatic crashes in motorsports history. Thanks to the Halo, the French driver survived the crash with minimal injuries.

Grosjean was driving out of turn two and lap 1 when he miscalculated a move. He spun his car, sending it head-on into the barriers. The survival cell split the vehicle into halves with the driver still inside. The collision also ignited the fuel cell.

Photo Credit: www.peakpx.com

The Halo has indeed saved the lives of many talented racers. Without the Halo, most of these drivers would not have survived these deadly accidents.