‘I don’t know how I survived’: Zhou Guanyu feared fire after British GP crash

Zhou Guanyu, the driver who endured an enormous crash at last Sunday’s British Grand Prix, has said he finds it hard to believe he survived the incident. Speaking about what happened at Silverstone for the first time, Zhou admitted he feared his car would catch fire as he lay trapped amid the wreckage.

The 23-year-old, who is the first Chinese driver in Formula One and in his rookie season in the sport, was speaking before this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring and once more paid tribute to the halo cockpit protection device. “I don’t know how I survived,” he said. “But then looking back obviously I saw the halo saved me.”

That Zhou survived such a horrific high-speed crash was testament to the safety of modern cars. At turn one on the opening lap there was a multi-car accident in which Zhou’s Alfa Romeo was clipped by George Russell’s Mercedes. It flipped the Alfa Romeo over upon first impact with the track, crushing the roll hoop above the driver’s head. The car then continued hurtling upside down at high speed across the gravel trap, repeatedly smashing the halo against the ground.

The Alfa Romeo then hit the barriers and the car was launched into the catch fencing beyond. Zhou’s car came to a halt stuck in the narrow space between the barriers and the fence. Having survived the impact but unable to get out, the driver was left fearing his vehicle would catch fire.

“Once I stopped I didn’t know where I was because I was upside down and the next thing I felt was some leaking,” Zhou said. “I was not sure if it was from my body or from the car, so I just tried to switch the engine off. I knew if a fire started it would be difficult to get out.

“It wasn’t hurting but it was very cold on the left hand