Since 2018, Formula 1 cars have been running the halo. The halo is a semi-circular-shaped piece of Titanium located above the driver’s head. But what is the purpose of this halo and why was it introduced to the sport?
Formula 1 is a very dangerous sport by nature due to the high speeds involved. We have seen many accidents in the past resulting in head injuries for the drivers. The halo was introduced to prevent these injuries from happening again.
The halo was brought in as a safety feature for the drivers. The FIA started planning for this after the crash of Jules Bianchi. The halo has saved countless lives and prevented even more head injuries since it was introduced.
The halo weighs only 19 pounds and yet, it can withstand a weight of over 26000 pounds. An average Formula 1 car weighs about 1700 pounds. So even if five Formula 1 cars land on top of the halo, it can withstand the weight.
How did the FIA come up with the halo?
After the incident involving Jules Bianchi in 2014, the FIA was under pressure to improve safety for the drivers in the cockpit. Although they introduced the VSC for track incidents, it was not enough. Over the past years, there have been several instances where Formula drivers have been hit by flying debris from other cars.
In an attempt to prevent this, the FIA knew that they needed to take additional methods to protect the driver’s head. So FIA proposed 2 options. One was the aeroscreen which is used in IndyCar. This would protect the driver from any flying debris. But the problem was that it was distracting for the driver.
Sebastian Vettel tested with the aeroscreen installed on his Formula 1 car during FP1 at the 2017 British Grand Prix. His assessment was that the screen made visibility an issue. He was also reportedly dizzy after his run with the aeroscreen. Hence the FIA went for the 2nd option, the halo.
Why were people against halo?
When the halo was first introduced in Formula 1, there were a lot of negative reactions to it from various figures including Niki Lauda, Toto Wolff, and Max Verstappen. Since the introduction of the Formula 1 Championship, there has been nothing over the cockpit.
So when the FIA introduced the halo, a lot of fans and Formula 1 moguls thought it was unnatural for a Formula 1 car. Some even felt that it obstructed the driver’s view as there was a column going down the middle in front of the driver.
Toto Wolff’s initial thoughts on Halo in 2018 🤐 pic.twitter.com/slGDw3V6T5
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) September 16, 2021
However, after the Belgian Grand Prix, where a major injury was avoided because of the halo, it changed everyone’s mind. Suddenly everyone understood the importance of it. The most important thing is that it saves lives.
How is the halo so strong?
Although the halo weighs only 19 pounds, it is made of Titanium. This material can withstand the weight of 2 African elephants. The dimensions of the halo are such that it can deflect and protect the driver from any possible events during a Formula 1 race.
Right after the halo was introduced, Mercedes’s James Allison said:
“This is not a light piece of work, it is several kilos of titanium that needs to be put in the car. There are changes that we needed to do to accommodate it to ensure the overall car would still stay below the weight limit. It’s also not light because it takes really high loads.”
“We had to strengthen the design of the chassis so it would be able to take roughly the weight of a London double-decker bus sitting on top of the halo. We needed to make sure it would be strong enough to withstand the type of event it was designed to protect the driver against.”
The teams had the challenge of modifying their design to complement the mandatory Halo on the cars. This made the overall car stronger, but slower, however, safety comes first for everyone.
Does the halo affect an F1 driver’s vision on the track?
To the spectators, the Formula 1 halo seems distracting and visually blocking for the drivers. For those who play the Formula 1 game, the halo has always been a distraction in the cockpit view. However, for a driver sitting in the car, the halo will not come in the way of his vision.
The halo column is placed in such a way that the driver cannot see it while he is focusing on the road. For example, when you are driving and you place your finger a few centimeters from your eyes you will not notice your finger. Your eyes will be concentrated on the road ahead that you will forget about the finger. The halo uses the same concept.
While the halo seems distracting to spectators, it will be no problem for the driver. After 5 years, no driver has ever complained about the halo being a distraction or blocking their view.
How many injuries were prevented because of the halo?
The halo has prevented a number of injuries and even lives since it was introduced. During the halo’s first year in 2018, there was an opening lap incident at the Belgian Grand Prix. During this incident, Fernando Alonso’s McLaren went flying onto the top of Charles Lerclerc’s Sauber. The halo prevented Alonso’s car from landing on Leclerc’s head.
Similarly, we all remember the incident between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen during the 2021 Italian Grand Prix. During the incident, the halo protected the head of Lewis Hamilton by preventing Max Verstappen’s right rear from landing on his head.
Then there was the accident with Romain Grosjean where he was able to walk out with very minor injuries when compared to the accident itself. During the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, Grosjean’s car hit the barriers and burst into a huge fireball. As soon as spectators see an accident like this, we assume the worst. However, the halo had protected his head and had left him conscious so he could fight the flames and get out of the car.
The latest life saved by the halo was in the 2022 season when Zhou Guanyu crashed in Silverstone. His car traveled upside down along the pavement and the gravel before hitting an object, flipping 3 times, and landing sideways. The halo prevented any damage to Guanyu, who had no injuries after the crash.
Similar to these incidents, the halo has saved countless lives in Formula 1 and other sports. The halo will remain a part of the sport for a long time. It will only be removed if it can be replaced with something better.