Jimu News reporter Yu Yuan
After being hit, Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu's F1 racing car took off and flipped. In an upside-down attitude, it slid from the track and hit the fence on the side of the field. The intense scene once frightened the audience. At the same time, Zhou Guanyu's physical condition also touched the hearts of many Chinese car fans. In the early morning of July 4, after encountering the above-mentioned serious rollover accident at the 2022 F1 Grand Prix British Station, Zhou Guanyu reported to everyone that he was safe through personal social media: "I am fine, I am very lucky to still be standing here, Halo saved me today. Thank you for your concern for me."
Zhou Guanyu's personal Weibo
In Zhou Guanyu's words, "Halo" is the "benefactor" who saved him. After the incident, the entry "Halo has done something good again" quickly became a hot search topic.
What is the "Halo" system? It is understood that "Halo" is a system designed to provide drivers with sufficient head protection in open-wheel events dominated by formula racing. It is mainly used to protect drivers from flying debris and retains the characteristics of formula racing. Unique open cockpit. "Halo" is made of titanium alloy material. Tests have shown that the Halo system can withstand a static load of 15 times the vehicle's own mass in the event of a vehicle-to-vehicle collision, which can significantly reduce potential injuries. In other words, this 7-kilogram component can withstand an impact of about 12 tons and is the strongest part of the entire vehicle.
has a more vivid metaphor in the official description of F1: it can withstand the weight of an double-decker bus .
Jianghan University Sports College∙China Racing AcademyProfessor Xia Hongwu introduced to Jimu News reporters that F1 is the highest competitive racing event in the world today. An excellent F1 car can even reach a top speed of more than 350 kilometers per hour. The fast and fierce competition process, while attracting a large number of fans, also brings about safety issues that cannot be ignored.
Public information shows that many drivers and spectators have died in F1 events so far.
Xia Hongwu said that as early as 2 years ago, the "Halo" system had saved the life of another F1 driver. In 2020, driver Grosjean lost control of his car and crashed into the guardrail. The cockpit ignited a fire and the car broke into two parts. However, the "Halo" system on the car was not damaged and the driver's body was not seriously injured.
However, since being introduced to F1 in the 2018 season, the life-saving "Halo" has been criticized many times. One team manager complained that if he had the chance, he would use a saw to cut off the "Halo". Some riders expressed that they were not used to "Halo" and considered it dispensable. Some car fans even call the "Halo" a "flip-flop" because of its styling.
"In motor sports, safety is always the first priority." Xia Hongwu said that in 2021, relevant staff from the FIA went to the China Racing Academy to give lectures. At that time, the staff member mentioned in the lecture that China's most powerful The driver who may break into F1 is Zhou Guanyu. In addition, when talking about the safety issues of automobile events, he also specifically mentioned the importance of the "Halo" system.
At that time, after experiencing that serious crash, Grosjean said: "I did not support the Halo system before, but I am grateful that it was introduced into the F1 car. Without it, I might not be able to be here with you today. Let’s talk.”
(Photo source: Migu Sports)
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