HALO HERE TO STAY
The debate over the decision to introduce the ‘halo’ head protection system to F1 this year appears to have been effectively ended by the terrifying accident at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix.
Fernando Alonso’s Mclaren was launched over Charles Leclerc’s Sauber when Renault’s Nico Hülkenberg missed his braking point for La Source hairpin and slammed into the back of Alonso’s car. Television replays and photographs of the incident show that not only did the Mclaren bounce off the halo of Leclerc’s car as it flew
over it, but that the device also deflected the right-front wheel when it appeared from some angles to be on a collision course with Leclerc’s head.
The FIA has not completed its investigations and cannot say for sure yet whether the halo saved Leclerc. But the incident did underline that the risks of serious injury or death from impacts with the driver’s head are very real, and that the halo stood up to its first ‘live’ test extremely well. It also justifies the halo’s introduction on the basis of two related points that the FIA took into account in their decision to impose the halo in 2018:
» the claim that such incidents happen at the top levels of motorsport on average at least once a year;
» the concern that once a device had been tested and developed and proved to work, not introducing it would lead to significant liability risks in the event of an injury or death.
Following the crash, a number of leading figures took the opportunity to point out how effective the halo had been. Chief among them was Alonso himself. One of the vast majority of senior drivers who had backed the halo from the start, Alonso said: “The positive side is we are all OK, especially Charles. I flew over his car and the halo was a good thing to have. I think for him it helped, looking at the replay. And for me in 2012 [when Romain Grosjean’s Lotus narrowly missed his head in a similar accident in the same place] I would be happier if I had the halo. It is a good proof. We didn’t need any proof but it is a good thing.”
Nico Rosberg, another vocal proponent of the halo, posted a picture of the damaged halo on Leclerc’s car on Twitter and wrote: “We can end the halo discussion now. It will save lives!” Felipe Massa added: “After seeing this, we can say: ‘The halo is beautiful!!!’”
Leclerc was initially ambivalent when speaking after the crash, saying: “To be honest, in some case it is useful. If today, it has been useful or not, I don’t know. I don’t know what would have happened without it but in some cases it is definitely helpful.” Having had time to digest the incident fully, he posted a picture of Alonso’s car on top of his, and wrote: “Never been a fan of the halo but I have to say that I was very happy to have it over my head today.”
A revised halo design, which FIA F1 director Charlie Whiting says he expects some people to find more aesthetically appealing, is being researched for likely introduction in 2021. Halo is here to stay.
“FOLLOWING THE CRASH A NUMBER OF LEADING FIGURES TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO POINT OUT HOW EFFECTIVE THE“HALO HAD BEEN