Zhou Guanyu crash: Fascinating simulation shows how Halo saved his life

The sport of Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motor racing, it is high speed and high drama, but this comes with risk.

Deaths in F1 are thankfully a rare occurrence.

The last driver killed in a racing incident was Jules Bianchi who collided with a recovery vehicle in wet conditions at the Japanese Grand Prix in October 2014, he died from his injuries nine months later.

F1 is always cutting edge when it comes to technology, this can be in terms of performance, reducing the sports impact on the environment or in this case driver safety. In that regard the biggest safety improvement in F1 has been the invention of the Halo device.

The Halo is a titanium bar that surrounds the drivers head and is connected to the frame of the car. It is designed to protect the drivers from a range of dangers they can experience whilst racing. Whether that is flying debris such as tyres or parts of an F1 car or protecting them when their cars flip or crash hard into barriers.

It came into effect in 2018 and was rolled out through the range of Formula classes. In the short time that it has been used, there have already been several high-profile incidents when it has prevented serious injury and potentially death.

Zhou Guanyu's horrific crash at last weekends British Grand prix