The halo is a driver crash-protection system used in open-wheel racing series, which consists of a curved bar placed above the driver's head to protect it.
The device consists of a bar that surrounds the driver's head and is connected by three points to the vehicle frame. The halo is made of titanium and weighed around 7 kilograms (15 lb) in the version presented in 2016, then rose to 9 kilograms (20 lb) in 2017.[2]
The system is not developed by the teams, but is manufactured by three approved external manufacturers chosen by the FIA and has the same specification for all vehicles.[3]
In a simulation performed by the FIA, using the data of 40 real incidents, the use of the system led to a 17% theoretical increase in the survival rate of the driver.[4]
History and development
Early development
In 2009, 2 major accidents happened in top level FiA open wheel series. These being the fatal accident of Henry Surtees at the Brands Hatch round of the 2009 Formula 2 season, and the accident Felipe Massa sustained during qualifying at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix. These accidents lead to a push for additional cockpit protection.[5]
Initially the FiA looked into the development of closed cockpit systems, visors, and forward roll structures.[6] "Fighter-jet style" screens were largely seen as the least effective early due to problems with flexing too much or shattering, depending on material used.
During development, the FiA examined three fundamental scenarios—collision between two vehicles, contact between a vehicle and the surrounding environment (such as barriers) and collisions with vehicles and debris. Tests have shown that the halo system can significantly reduce the risk of injury to the driver. In many cases the system was able to prevent the helmet from coming into contact with a barrier when checked against a series of accidents that had occurred in the past. During the study of the last case it was found that the halo was able to deflect large objects and provide greater protection against smaller debris.[7]
Halo system at the Spark SRT05e. The halo for the Gen2 car includes a strip of LED lights that indicate the level of power mode the car is in (blue for ATTACK MODE and magenta for Fanboost).
In August 2017 the Dallara F2 2018, a new Formula 2 car, was presented and was the first to install the halo system.[8] The SRT05eFormula E car presented in January 2018 had a halo.[9] In November 2018, the 2019 FIA Formula 3 car, which was unveiled in Abu Dhabi, installed the halo too.[10] Beginning in 2021, the Indy Lights' IL-15 began using the halo.[11]
Alternative systems
As an alternative to the halo system, Red Bull Advanced Technologies developed the transparent "aeroscreen".[12] The design, which was similar to a small fairing, did not receive much interest from the FIA. After the drivers had expressed their opposition to the introduction of the halo system, the FIA developed "Shield", a transparent polyvinyl chloride screen.[13] In 2019 the aeroscreen was adapted to use the halo as a structural frame for use in IndyCar.[12]
Sebastian Vettel was the first and only driver to try Shield in a Formula 1 car. During the free practice for the 2017 British Grand Prix, he completed a lap with the new system before ending the test early. He complained of distorted and blurred vision that prevented him from driving.[14] Its introduction was subsequently excluded, as there was no guarantee that the issues with Shield could be solved in time for the 2018 season.[15]
Initial reception
The system aroused some criticism before it was involved in any incidents, including that of Niki Lauda, who claimed that the system distorted the "essence of racing cars".[16] The system was also initially unpopular with fans, with some saying that it was visually unappealing, against the concept of open-cockpit racing, and obstructed the driver's vision.[17] There were more safety based concerns from both some of the race teams including Ferrari and Mercedes, and some drivers stating the invention would make it “harder for the driver to get out of the car”.[18] Though, other former drivers, including Jackie Stewart, welcomed the system and compared it to the introduction of seat belts, which had been similarly criticised, but then became the norm also on road cars.[19] Max Verstappen did not support the introduction of the halo in 2018, saying that it "abused the DNA" of F1, which was "less dangerous than riding a bicycle in a city."[20] However, the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix is the last crash that inspired engineers to fix the big problem: the fatality rate.[21]
Cost
The halo also changed how much the companies spend on the car. Economically within the FIA, the teams had a big issue with the price because a single halo cost somewhere between €13,000 and €24,000. Each team has two drivers so the teams would have to spend double that amount for both drivers.[22] To put into perspective, each team would spend roughly €48,000 euros (about $50,270) just for the halo and not the rest of the car. Additionally, they would have to perform many tests to make sure that it is durable and safe to use. Formula One does not really profit from the race and they only do it because they want to advertise their name; thus, spending that amount of money on the halo comes as a surprise according to Force India technical boss, Andy Green.[22]
Incidents
Despite initial criticism, the halo was praised by the community following an incident where the halo was struck by another car—one in the Formula 2 race at Spain, where Tadasuke Makino's halo was landed on by fellow Japanese driver Nirei Fukuzumi's car, and one in the Belgian Grand Prix, where Charles Leclerc's halo was struck by Fernando Alonso's airborne McLaren, with both of their haloes showing visible damage from the impact. Both Makino and Leclerc credited the halo for possibly saving their lives, and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who had criticised the halo earlier in the season, said that saving Leclerc from injury made the halo "worth it" despite its "terrible aesthetics".[23][24]
The halo was credited with potentially saving the life of Alex Peroni after his vehicle became airborne and crashed during a Formula 3 event at Monza on 7 September 2019.[25] It also played a critical role in protecting Romain Grosjean at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix where, after hitting Daniil Kvyat's car, he crashed into the barriers head-on. The car split the crash barrier, allowing the car to slip through in between and splitting off the back of the car from the safety cell. The halo deflected the upper section of the barrier, protecting Grosjean's head from the impact. Despite initial concern over drivers being unable to evacuate quickly due to the halo, Grosjean was able to climb out largely unassisted, despite the car catching fire upon impact with the barrier. He emerged from the flames with burns on his hands and ankles.[26] "I wasn't for the halo some years ago, but I think it's the greatest thing that we've brought to Formula 1, and without it I wouldn't be able to speak with you today," Grosjean said.[27] In a similar pre-halo accident at the 1974 United States Grand Prix, driver Helmuth Koinigg was decapitated.[28]
At the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton collided. Verstappen's wheel landed on the halo protecting Hamilton's head, with Hamilton later saying it "saved my neck".[29] At the 2022 British Grand Prix, Zhou Guanyu said the halo saved his life after his Alfa Romeo flipped over, spun and careered over the tyre barrier, because the roll hoop collapsed as soon as it hit the tarmac.[30] Before Zhou's incident, during the Formula 2 feature race earlier in the day, the halo potentially saved the life of Roy Nissany after a collision with Dennis Hauger. Hauger's car was catapulted by a sausage kerb after being forced off the track by Nissany, then crashed on to the top of Nissany's car.[31]
The halo also potentially saved Nyck de Vries' life after a multi-car collision in the opening lap of the first 2022 Seoul ePrix that also involved Oliver Turvey, Dan Ticktum, Oliver Askew, André Lotterer, Sébastien Buemi, Norman Nato, and Nick Cassidy. De Vries' car submarined under Buemi's car as it lost control into a wall, only for Lotterer to hit de Vries from behind, in particular due to a combination of poor track visibility and a wet road. De Vries came out unscathed, praised the halo, and commented that "I would be even smaller than I am" without it.[32]
The halo also potentially saved the lives of Zane Maloney and Oliver Goethe during the sixth lap of the 2022 Spa-Francorchamps Formula 3 round Sprint Race. Goethe's car hit a barrier on the exit of Blanchimont, forcing his car to flip upside down and land on that of Maloney's. Both drivers were escorted out of their cars with Maloney suffering from only minor bruises on his hands.[citation needed]
At the 2023 Indianapolis 500, Felix Rosenqvist spun out of turn 2 with 16 laps to go. While attempting to dodge the spinning Rosenqvist, Kyle Kirkwood's back left tire came into contact with Rosenqvist's back tire, completely dislodging Kirkwood's tire. Kirkwood impacted the outside wall in turn 2 heavily, with the impact causing the car to flip over and slide to a halt upside down. Neither driver was injured.[33] Video shows the Dallara DW12's aeroscreen (an enclosed protection device akin to the halo) protecting Kirkwood from making contact directly with the track and the SAFER barrier as the car was sliding.
^"Presenting the facts behind Halo"(video). Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). 2 August 2017. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
^Emons, Michael (12 September 2021). "'Halo' saved my life - Hamilton". BBC Sport. I feel very fortunate today. Thank God for the halo which saved me, and saved my neck.
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