Zhou Guanyu Tweets Medical Update After Scary Crash At British Grand Prix.. Formula One’s halo cockpit protection device was credited as critical in having saved lives at the British Grand Prix after a terrifying first-lap crash at Silverstone.
The Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu survived an enormous high-speed smash and acknowledged the device had been key in protecting him from serious injury.
The incident-packed race was also interrupted by environmental protesters, with Lewis Hamilton expressing support for their cause afterwards.
At turn one on the opening lap a multi-car shunt involved Zhou’s Alfa Romeo hitting the barriers at high speed – his car was flipped and came to halt between the armco and the catch fencing. It then took some time to extract the 23-year-old, who is the first Chinese driver in Formula One and in his rookie season.
Zhou was safely removed and taken to the medical centre for examination. He was conscious and was released having been declared fit. “I’m OK, all clear. Halo saved me today. Thanks everyone for your kind messages!” he posted on Twitter.
George Russell was clipped by Pierre Gasly in the incident also involving Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon and the Mercedes driver then collided with Zhou, turning his car over, causing it to hurtle at high-speed upside down across the gravel trap, with impact on the halo which protects the drivers’ head, before hitting the barriers and sailing over them into the fence. Albon was taken to hospital for a check-up but was also pronounced unhurt.
The scale and speed of the incident was horrific and Zhou was remarkably lucky to have escaped.
I’m ok, all clear. Halo saved me today. Thanks everyone for your kind messages! pic.twitter.com/OylxoJC4M0
— 周冠宇 | Zhou Guanyu 🇨🇳 (@ZhouGuanyu24) July 3, 2022
When informed of the incident afterwards, Hamilton, who has expressed a commitment to environmental issues appeared to back them. When told it was by Just Stop Oil, he said: “Big up those guys.”
When asked to make his position clear, Hamilton added: “I didn’t know what the protesters were for, so I only just found out. I just said big up the protesters. I love that people are fighting for the planet. So we need more people like them.”
He later qualified that support via Instagram, posting: “I wasn’t aware of the protests and while I’ll always support those standing up for what they believe in, it must be done safely. Please don’t jump onto our race circuits to protest. We don’t want to put you in harm’s way.”
A Mercedes spokesperson then issued a statement clarifying that Hamilton had been unaware of the method of protest the activists had used. “Lewis was endorsing their right to protest but not the method that they chose, which compromised their safety and that of others.”
Ch Insp Tom Thompson of Northamptonshire police confirmed seven protesters had been detained. “I’m really disappointed that this group of people ignored our warnings prior to race day and made the incredibly dangerous decision to enter the track,” he said.