F1 British Grand Prix 2022: Fans flee horror smash as drivers demand change at Silverstone

More vision of the death defying crash at the British Grand Prix has emerged showing the terrifying moment fans in the stand fled as an F1 star’s car was catapulted into safety barriers.

Alfa Romeo's Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu skids across the track

Terrifying footage of the horror crash at the British Grand Prix has emerged showing fans running from their seats as Zhou Guanyu’s Alfa Romeo is flipped upside down sent speeding into safety barriers.

Zhou said he was lucky to be alive and was saved by the halo safety device as car skidded off across a gravel trap and over tyre barriers into the catch fencing.

In re-runs of the start, it appeared that Russell, starting eighth, moved to his right after a poor start and collided with Zhou’s Alfa Romeo as the pair strove to stay ahead of Pierre Gasly.

The normal speed for Formula One cars in that part of the circuit is around 240 kph.

George Russell, who stopped his Mercedes on the track as soon as he saw the red flag, ran to check on his rival amid widespread concern for his welfare.

Crowd view of the crash from today’s race. Absolutely unreal improvements in F1 safety in recent years, truly impressive design. Halo might look ugly, but wow.pic.twitter.com/QRLnsUoqPn

— Andrew Fox (@Mr_Andrew_Fox) July 3, 2022

After some moments of grave concern, the thumbs up came from Russell and a steward before Alfo Romeo confirmed their driver was conscious and largely unhurt.

Nonetheless, Russell expressed his concerns about why there was a gap on the track that meant a car could end up totally stuck.

“It was an incredibly scary incident, not just for him but for everyone in the crowd as well, it’s never nice to see,” Russell said afterwards.

Huge smash at @SilverstoneUK hoping the driver is okay. Was a scary incident #F1#SilverstoneGPpic.twitter.com/oCzXOct1iX

— The Sausage Kerb (@thesausagekerb) July 3, 2022

Fan footage of Zhou crash from crowd view #SilverstoneGP#BritishGP#Zhou#F1pic.twitter.com/ZfX2uP2M06

— 👨🏾‍💻⚡️ (@AmScuderia) July 3, 2022

“It was horrible, in that position he was stuck there, nothing he could have done.

“We need to have a think to avoid a car being stuck in such a fine gap – the space between the barriers and the metal fence and he was just stuck in there, nowhere to go. Yeah, something to learn…”

Zhou was conscious when emergency crews finally freed him from the wreckage but was immediately taken by stretcher to the emergency medical centre at the Silverstone circuit.

Television broadcasters did not show a replay of the crash until it was confirmed he was okay - so when it was finally shown again social media went into meltdown at the sheer terror of what had unfolded.

It was the second time in the dsame race weekend that the halo safety device had been central to protecting and saving the life of a driver after Dennis Hauger and Roy Nissany’s F2 collision.

Thank god ! @ZhouGuanyu24 is all well and good ! pic.twitter.com/jBsepUI2gM

— Ayrton Simmons (@ayrton_simmons) July 3, 2022

Hauger’s car landed on top of Nissany’s yet incredibly neither driver was seriously injured.

Paying tribute to the halo - widely criticised when it was introduced in 2018 - race winner Carlos Sainz said: “We sometimes criticise the FIA [F1’s governing body] but you need to give it to them, how much they’ve been helping us

“They’ve saved probably two lives.

“We need to give it to them, [for] the amazing work in safety.

“When I saw it, I was completely shocked. It was incredible. The fact he came out of it... is crazy. I find it incredible that you can come out of it.”

After being cleared by medical personnel, Zhou posted to his social media that the halo ‘saved me’.

Last season Lewis Hamilton had singled out the halo for saving him from serious harm after Max Verstappen’s Red Bull ended up on top of his cockpit in a scary incident at Monza