The halo, head protection device, sparked a lot of debate when it was announced it would be added to the formula one car this year. But the debate has once been re-fired as the crash at La Source, caused by Hulkenberg, saw Alonso go airborne and over Charles Leclerc's car.
The crash was a shocking one, to say the least, it was a lap one incident. Which is the craziest we have seen all year. It sparked the debate surrounding the halo, the majority agree it saved Charles Leclerc's life and/or saved him from serious injuries.
It all started as Hulkeberg (Whom now has a 10 place grid penalty for causing the collision), locked up and this cause him to go into the back of Alonso, which saw Alonso airborne over the Sauber driver.
It was very clear that Alonso's wheel was heading straight for Leclerc's head and the halo was the thing that stopped the wheel from getting him. The image of the monegasque's halo shows that there could have been a much worse out come, as the halo was seen to be broken slightly, which was the carbon fibre shell around the outside and the titanium core, was left untouched. The tyre marks were plain and clear and were pure tyre rubber on the white halo.
This is not the first time this year where it has seen a halo turn out in this way. The first instance occurred in a different series, Formula 2. The incident took place in Spain, with Nirei Fukuzumi and Tadasuke Makino, where they crashed into each other at turn 4. Fukuzumi, went down the inside and this lead his car to go across Makino's Russian Time car. The accident, which you can find at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lZEwfaLNbE , was a first look at how the halo would help and save lives, or stop accidents causing serious injuries.
It seems that the halo debate stopped for a long time, as more and more of us fans got used to the halo, and how it was on the car. Yes, it still is not the nicest thing to look at on the car but it is proving, that it is working.
An argument on the opposite side is how, when Stroll and Hartley collided in Canada. Hartley hit his head on the halo. However, if you watch the crash it can be said, it could have been a tad bit worse if the halo wasn't their because the Stroll/ Hartley crash was a strange one.
The thing with the Hulkenberg, Alonso and Leclerc accident is it started the debate, and the halo was definitely the helping hand of the accident not turning worse. But as normal, most brought up other things we could have had on the formula 1 cars. The IndyCar screen, the Red Bull and the Ferrari screens which they came up with. It should be said, both the Red Bull and Ferrari screens broke when tested.
These head protection devices are meant to protect the drivers from things heading at them. A massive play, in a head protection device was Felipe Massa's crash, which was caused by a spring from the Brawn GP car hitting him and going through his helmet (of course things happened to the helmet after the accident).
The IndyCar screen, is what most wished had been adapted by formula 1. Nevertheless, not only are the cars in indy cars very different in design to formula 1 cars. The IndyCar screen was also similar to the Red Bull and Ferrari ideas which were rejected due to Sebastian Vettel reporting dizziness with the screen.
The debate of safety should never really be up for debate. Yet, with the indy car screen, some would say that Indy Car is a lot less safer than formula 1. Which is very true, Formula 1, seems to be at the top of safety. Where as IndyCar, it is a debate in itself but IndyCar seems less safe due to how the track is set up and the car itself.
But anyway, moving on. The main problem for formula one fans, is how the halo looks. It aesthetically, is horrid. But safety again comes first, but the thing is, this halo idea will develop to suit the car better.
Look back at some of the old formula one cars, at the time they looked horrible. Over time, there have been a lot of questionable things added to the formula 1 cars. When rear wings were added, they didn't look great but over time they developed into something that is an essential part of the car, they've developed to be aesthetically pleasing.
As fans, we need to end the debate of the halo. It is here now. And it is simply here to stay. For safety reasons, it will not be going anywhere anytime soon. It's saved a life, and it may save more in due time. That is all that matters. The halo, will over time become something we are used to, something you are used to.
For now, we are not so used to it. But eventually, it will become nature and natural to the car. The halo debate, needs and should end now. Due to the fact, it's done what it said it would do. That is cause for end of the debate right their. If you don't think it saved/helped Leclerc, avoid injury, well, who knows why you wouldn't now.
The debate is over. Just over, we will get used to how it looks. But for now leave it, it's done what it said it would. We do not need a debate over safety because anything can happen. Safety is all that matters here right?
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