four questions about the halo, the device that probably saved Lewis Hamilton’s life

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Stopped in his race by a collision with Max Verstappen which could have turned into a tragedy, Lewis Hamilton escaped the worst, during the Italian Grand Prix, Sunday, September 12. In a message posted on his Twitter account, the F1 world champion did not fail to mention what probably saved his life: the halo. A roll bar, fixed on each car and compulsory since 2018 which “made this accident less worse than it could have been “ wrote the British pilot, also thanking “those who work to make cars and races safer”.

Contested at the start, this titanium arch had destabilized the drivers but above all made it possible to avoid several tragedies on the F1 circuits. On November 29, 2020, Romain Grosjean miraculously got out of a spectacular accident during the Bahrain Grand Prix. Reluctant to install the halo, he too had thanked him once he got out of the business. Franceinfo: sport answers four questions around this now crucial device.

What is the halo?

It is a hoop attached to the car, in front of the steering wheel and on either side of the driver’s helmet. It has been visible on all single-seaters since 2018. Previously, Formula 1 cars were “naked” at the front. At the time, this new element had destabilized drivers and followers, some even going so far as to regret that the spirit of Formula 1 was damaged (see below).

A steel prototype was successfully tested in 2015: it withstood the impact of a 20 kg tire sent at 225 km / h by a cannon. At the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix, a Halo n ° 2, made of titanium, lighter and more resistant, was tested. Wider, it improves the visibility of pilots. At the end of the 2016 season, all the riders had at least been able to do one lap with this system.

Why was it made mandatory in 2018?

The halo comes from the need to protect the pilots’ heads, in addition to the traditional helmet. The idea came a double accident in 2009: that, fatal, of Henry Surtees, killed by a tire in an F2 race; and that of Felipe Massa in Formula 1, hit in the head by debris on the Hungarian GP. The accident of Justin wilson in Indycar in 2015 – killed by debris – ended up convincing the GPDA (Association of Pilots) to demand a protection system.

The halo was offered to the stables in 2016. But there was a lot of resistance to its introduction. The test phases lasted two years, during which the manufacturers even proposed an alternative device, as the halo was not unanimous in the paddock. But it turned out to be disastrous, and for lack of anything else, it was the halo that was approved for the 2018 season.

Why has this system been criticized?

“Almost all the teams were against, the fans are against, the drivers mostly said no, and yet he will be there next season.” These are the words of Romain Grosjean, in 2018, as president of the Drivers’ Association, a few weeks after the introduction of the halo in F1. Where does this enmity of the pilots for this device come from?

First, most feared for their visibility. The halo is prominent, and it takes root in the field of vision of pilots. “When I tested it in Brazil last year, I felt uncomfortable, had estimated Romain Grosjean. I was always trying to focus on something in front of me and there was this thing in the middle. ” But practice has generally reassured them on this point. “We just need to learn to drive with it, had estimated the French Esteban Ocon to the world. This certainly has an impact on your visibility, (…) but the advantages in terms of security are important. I know some fans don’t like it, but I think they’ll get used to it pretty quickly. ”

The main criticism of the players in F1 ultimately comes from a fear of the “essence” of their sport. “The halo destroys the DNA of F1, declared the former champion Niki Lauda. The risk for the pilots has become minimal “. The partly closed cockpit is thus experienced as a betrayal of the original spirit of the sport. “If you flatten the wheels or cover the drivers’ heads, it’s not F1 anymore”, ensures a team manager at Le Monde in 2018.

Has the halo ever saved lives?

That of Lewis Hamilton without a doubt. Engaged in an intense duel, the British driver and Max Verstappen clashed at the first chicane of the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday 12 September. The Dutchman’s car then passed above that of the seven-time world champion. The wheel of the Red Bull vehicle was stopped clean above the Briton’s head … thanks to the halo.

Less than a year ago, Romain Grosjean’s life was probably spared by this device. The images of the pilot, leaving his vehicle in flames after long seconds spent in the cockpit, had marked the spirits. However, the few seconds before the vehicle went up in flames had been just as brutal, and the halo had prevented a serious impact between the pilot and the guardrail.


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