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Verstappen says halo reaction after Belgian GP crash was too dramatic

Published on 31 Aug 2018 09:05
7
By: Sam Gale

Red Bull's Max Verstappen has claimed that the reaction to the halo device after the opening lap crash at the Belgian Grand Prix has been too dramatic. The young Dutchman has claimed that the device's impact has been overstated in the aftermath and that it did very little to protect Charles Leclerc from harm.

The halo was introduced at the beginning of the year after concerns about the lack of protection in the cockpit from strikes on the head, which caused the death of Justin Wilson in IndyCar in 2015 and near-fatal injury of Felipe Massa in 2009.

In the wake of last week's Belgian Grand Prix and the clear marks shown on the Sauber's halo device many of its prior critics have been forced to admit the halo did its job in this particular crash. Howeve, Verstappen disagreed with this sentiment and was keen to point this out ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.

“I honestly think it looked worse than it actually was, because the car never vertically drops on someone else,” Verstappen told media ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

“We would always skid over the top. But because the Halo is sticking out so much, of course it gets hit at one point. The more you build in front of a driver, the more chance you can get hit. I think even if the Halo wouldn't be there, he wouldn't have been hit anyway. I think they made it a bit too dramatic.”

Sam Gale

LightIsRight

Posts: 113

That moment you realise you agree with Crashstappen on something...

And I couldn't agree with him more. He literally said everything I was thinking.

3
Aug 31 2018 - 11:07

F1 News Max Verstappen Felipe Massa Charles Leclerc Red Bull Racing Sauber

Replies (7)

LightIsRight

Posts: 113
That moment you realise you agree with Crashstappen on something...

And I couldn't agree with him more. He literally said everything I was thinking.
- + 3
- Aug 31 2018 - 11:07
- KyalamiKid
  
  Posts: 146
  I agree
  Like him or not - at least he says what he thinks.
  + 0
  
  Aug 31 2018 - 11:40
Rindtchamp

Posts: 304
Finally I agree with him on something.
- + 0
- Aug 31 2018 - 12:07
Ram Samartha

Posts: 1,172
I was also found myself agreeing until I saw the onboard of Hartley's car. It seems to show pretty well that the trajectory of Alonso's wheel was directly towards LeClerc's head. Too close for comfort anyway. Better to have it there is what I see.
- + 1
- Aug 31 2018 - 16:15
- KyalamiKid
  
  Posts: 146
  Have you seen the footage from LeClerc's nose cam (that swivelling camera)?
  Sure I agree, it s better not to find out if it would have hit him yes or no - but I do find the 'Halo saved his life' claims a bit exaggerating
  + 0
  
  Aug 31 2018 - 19:29
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
I disagree, but thats just me. And Hulk, it seems.
- + 0
- Aug 31 2018 - 16:26
cricho

Posts: 80
I'm sure he will learn by himself one day how safe and usefull the halo really is. It is never too much when it comes to pilot safety. I disagree with VER. Halo saved LEC from a head Impact. VIdeó clearly shows it.
- + 0
- Sep 1 2018 - 05:09