ALONSO HORROR CRASH

F1 star emerges unscathed in Belgium

FERNANDO ALONSO said Formula One’s new halo device saved Charles Leclerc from serious injury following their terrifying crash at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Sebastian Vettel finished 11 seconds clear of Lewis Hamilton to win on the sport’s return to action at Spa-Francorchamps and reduce the championship deficit to 17 points.

But the Ferrari driver’s commanding victory was overshadowed by Alonso’s opening-corner smash in which the Spaniard was sent airborne and within inches of Sauber driver Leclerc’s head. Images of Leclerc’s white halo – the threepronged cockpit protection device which sits above the driver and became mandatory this season – later emerged to reveal the black marks of Alonso’s McLaren.

The dramatic collision was caused by Nico Hulkenberg after the experienced Renault driver missed his braking point at La Source and, in a plume of tyre smoke, careered into the back of Alonso.

The force of the impact launched the double world champion skywards before his McLaren landed on the helpless Leclerc, and then on the tarmac. Miraculously, however, all three men walked away completely unscathed.

“I flew over Leclerc’s car and the halo was a very good thing to have today,” Alonso, 37, said.

“Looking at the replay I think it helped him.

“We didn’t have any doubts about it before, but this accident shows it offers good protection.”