Sainz did not want to watch Zhou F1 crash replays

Zhou was pitched upside down on the run away from the original start, and skidded through a gravel trap before rolling over a tyre barrier at the opening Abbey corner.

Although his Alfa Romeo ended up wedged between the tyre barriers and catch fencing, marshals were able to get him out of the car and the Chinese racer was later given the all-clear by Silverstone’s medical staff.

While positive news of Zhou’s conditions was made clear during the near hour-long wait drivers faced before the British GP was restarted, Sainz says he opted not to have a look at what had happened.

It was only after the race finished, when following his victory Sainz saw the accident in the pre-podium room, that he comprehended how big a smash it was.

“I took the decision not to see the accident,” explained Sainz. “When a red flag happened, I knew there must have been a big shunt for the red flag. But I didn't watch the TVs.

“Obviously, I was incredibly happy to see Zhou coming out of the car without major issues but then when I saw it now on the podium, I was completely shocked. It was incredible the crash and the fact that he came out of it.”

Sainz said that while the FIA has been under fire for some of its actions this year, there was no doubt that on safety it was fully on top of things.

“I just find it incredible that you can come out of it,” he added. “We sometimes criticise the FIA, but in these cases you need to give it to them how much they've been helping us.

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari, 1st position, talks to the press

Photo by: Drew Gibson / Motorsport Images

“And if you see the crash [involving Roy Nissany] in F2, what happened with the halo, then they've saved probably two lives. So we need to give it to them, the amazing work they are