Driver safety is the most important thing when designing cars. How does the Halo help make it safer?
What is the Halo and how it works
When the Halo was first introduced in 2018, it was pretty controversial. Many were concerned with the aesthetics of it and for the visibility for the drivers in the cockpit, but it has since proven its effectiveness. It is now regarded as one of the most vital safety innovations in the sport.
The Halo is the titanium protection divide that goes around the cockpit of the car. It is a curved bar that shields the drivers’ heads from pieces of large debris or other cars, helping to prevent serious injuries in crashes.
The Halo is incredibly strong. It is made from aerospace-grade titanium known as Grade 5 6AL4V. The structure is capable of holding a lot of weight, while it only weighs 7kg. The shape of it looks like a wishbone and is two tube sections that are welded together.
Why it was introduced
There was a push for more protection for the drivers’ in the cockpit in 2009 after the son of former world champion John Surtees, Henry Surtees, died because of a loose wheel during a Formula 2 race. Not long later, Felipe Massa experienced life threatening injuries after he was hit in the head by a loose spring during a practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The issue arose again after Jules Bianchi’s accident at the Japanese Grand Prix when he crashed into a recovery vehicle that was removing Adrian Sutil’s car after he spun out in the wet conditions. Bianchi was in a coma for nine months before passing away in 2015.
Also in 2015, Justin Wilson, a former F1 driver, died due to a flying piece of debris while racing in IndyCar, another open cockpit series. This furthered recognition of the dangers of open-cockpit racing and prompted the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association to call for additional protection in F1.
The FIA had already been researching additional head protection. They put a provision in the 2017 technical regulations for the Halo and began on track test in 2016, but there were concerns that it was being rushed and needed to be tested at different circuits, therefore they postponed the introduction to 2018.
Notable incidents
The first notable incident that proved the effectiveness of the Halo was during the 2018 Belgium Grand Prix. The Halo protected Charles Leclerc when Fernando Alonso’s car launched over Leclerc’s cockpit. Analysis of the accident estimated that the Halo took around 12,600 pounds of force, showing its ability to withstand extreme forces.
Another incident occurred at the 2020 Belgium Grand Prix during the opening lap of the race, where there was a multiple car accident. Antonio Giovinazzi’s car made contact with the back of George Russell’s, causing the car to go airborne and flip over. The Halo on Russell’s car deterred the impact of Giovinazzi’s, preventing it from hitting Russell’s head directly.
The effectiveness of the Halo were really put on show during the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix when Romain Grosjean hit the barrier at high speeds. When he collided, his car split into two and was immediately overcome in flames. The Halo managed to deflect the barrier and create a protective zone around his head, allowing him to escape with no life-threatening injuries. This incident made the effect of the Halo relatively inarguable.
The impact of the Halo continues to be seen in many other incidents. Most recently, the Halo protected Lewis Hamilton at the 2025 US Grand Prix Sprint race. The Halo deflected a large piece of debris that was on course to hit Hamilton’s helmet, and he continued to race unaffected.