Zhou Guanyu refuses to watch back his first lap Formula 1 horror crash at the 2022 British Grand Prix as he returns this weekend. On the first lap last season, Zhou was clipped by George Russell's Mercedes and tipped upside down, flying through the gravel trap and landing wedged between the tyre barrier and catch-fencing on the outside of Turn 1. Fortunately, he escaped serious injury, with the roll-hoop coming under scrutiny after it appeared to fail. Returning to Silverstone for the first time, Zhou - who is set to start in 17th - discussed the accident.
Zhou remembers 2022 accident
"For me to think about what happened that day, I actually have to wind back, but it is off my mind and in the past," Zhou told media including RacingNews365. "It does feel a bit more emotional coming back to Silverstone, and I am looking forward to it as last year was a good weekend before what happened on Sunday. "After [the incident] I was in the medical centre, I had a look what happened, because obviously somebody hit me from behind, and it made me flip. "Since then, I've never watched any video. Of course it's hard to avoid pictures because sometimes people bring it up, but it doesn't make much difference, but yeah it is hard. "It was a huge and scary crash."
Combination of luck and safety
The Chinese driver also credited the halo with saving his life in the accident - the second time on the day a driver had been saved by it after Dennis Hauger survived an accident in the Formula 2 race with Roy Nissany. "Certainly it was a bit of both," said Zhou when asked if it was simply luck or safety that helped him in the accident. "The priority was the halo, because I was upside down for a long time, sliding off into the gravel, so that definitely saved me. "But then of course, the last impact you can underestimate so it was fearful, but I am really happy. "The FIA and the team was able to [tweak] the regulations to increase the force that [the rollover hoop must withstand]."
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