The halo is a safety device used in single-seater motorsport designed to protect the head and neck of drivers in case of accidents, composed of a carbon or aluminum ring surrounding the car cockpit, connected to the vehicle structure through several mounting points.
It was introduced originally in Formula 1 in 2018, being adopted by other motorsport championships around the world, such as Formula 2, Formula 3 and Formula E, with the main objective of improving safety standards, serving as a device to prevent injuries in the critical areas of the human body mentioned recently.
Before this tool, drivers only had a helmet and a HANS to protect themselves in case of an accident. However, it was not always enough to protect them against serious injuries, such as skull fractures or cervical injuries.
Now, the halo provides an additional barrier that helps protect the head and neck from external objects in the event of an impact. Several accidents served as study data to come up with its shape and implementation, such as the one involving Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, where the Ferrari driver at the time may have lost his hands.
Related content: What is HANS: Use and Importance during Speed Racing
Initial Criticism and Performance
Despite the blessing it currently represents in single-seater racing, the halo has also been criticized by some due to its appearance, as well as affecting the driver’s forward visibility. However, the biggest criticism originated from its aesthetic form, which somewhat overshadows the beauty of the car itself.
However, engineers have worked to ensure that the halo does not affect visibility and that it is light enough not to affect the car’s performance. On the other hand, in terms of safety, it has passed with flying colors, saving several lives in Formula 1.
Charles Leclerc suffered an accident while racing for Alfa Romeo where the halo saved him from a very strong impact of a tire on his head. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were involved in a collision where he also came into the limelight after avoiding a heavy blow to the Briton’s head.
However, the most notable case of his role was the accident of the Chinese Guanyu Zhou, when his car was completely inverted, covering several meters of asphalt in this way but avoiding direct contact between the ground and the driver’s head. Finally, another success story was the terrible accident of Romain Grosjean, where his Haas car was split in half.
In conclusion, aesthetically it may not be very pleasant, but undoubtedly its entry into motorsport has made the difference between life and death for several Formula 1 drivers, without counting those in other categories.
Written by | Ronald Ortega
