[imagesource: Getty Images]

Are there lots and lots of George Russell haters out there?

Apparently so, although there are perhaps fewer after yesterday’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Moments after it was ‘lights out and away we go’, Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu’s Alfa Romeo was catapulted upside down and he slid off the track at high speed.

He owes a great deal of gratitude to Formula One’s halo cockpit protection device, which he later credited with saving him from serious injury.

Before we see the crash from multiple angles, here’s The Guardian with what went wrong:

At turn one on the opening lap a multi-car shunt involved Zhou’s Alfa Romeo hitting the barriers at high speed – his car was flipped and came to halt between the armco and the catch fencing.

It then took some time to extract the 23-year-old, who is the first Chinese driver in Formula One and in his rookie season…

George Russell was clipped by Pierre Gasly in the incident also involving Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon and the Mercedes driver then collided with Zhou, turning his car over, causing it to hurtle at high-speed upside down across the gravel trap, with impact on the halo which protects the drivers’ head, before hitting the barriers and sailing over them into the fence. Albon was taken to hospital for a check-up but was also pronounced unhurt.

Via the official F1 YouTube channel, here’s a look at the crash:

This angle shows how Guanyu’s vehicle almost ended up in the crowd:

Here’s how it came to rest wedged against the fence:

Another shot from the crowd:

Right, so about George Russell.

The driver was credited for the concern he showed for Guanyu’s wellbeing, leaping from his car and sprinting over to check on him:

George Russell left his Mercedes car straight after the red flag to check on Zhou Guanyu.

A true sportsman ❤️ pic.twitter.com/xsePmP66bZ

— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) July 3, 2022

The greatest moment in Formula 1 in years!
The greatest moment in this years Silverstone GP!
George Russell running to see if he can help fellow racer Zhou Guanyu after an horrific crash. pic.twitter.com/s6pOBy79Hw

— Fabulous Finn®️ (@K9Finn) July 3, 2022

george russell, you’re an angel pic.twitter.com/7tHZBt3FSL

— ☆ (@russellwiki) July 3, 2022

george russell was an absolute KING for giving zero fucks and jumping out of his car to check on zhou pic.twitter.com/6S2We0BMZK

— andy (@iiiuminateandy) July 3, 2022

Fair play to Russell. Not sure I’d call it ‘the greatest moment in Formula 1 in years’ or the British driver an ‘angel’, but social media doesn’t do half measures.

Eventually, news filtered through that Guanyu was fine. He later took to social media to give the all-clear:

I’m ok, all clear. Halo saved me today. Thanks everyone for your kind messages! pic.twitter.com/OylxoJC4M0

— 周冠宇 | Zhou Guanyu 🇨🇳 (@ZhouGuanyu24) July 3, 2022

It’s not the first time the halo has been credited with saving a driver from serious harm and it won’t be the last.

Carlos Sainz claimed his maiden F1 win on his 150th start in a thrilling race, with Sergio Pérez and Lewis Hamilton taking second and third respectively.

[source:guardian]