Silverstone undergoes drastic modification of Turn 1 run-off in response to the horrific Zhou crash
Silverstone's managing director has revealed that the management has done plenty of work in terms of safety over the winter.
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Zhou Guanyu. Image via SportsMax.
Zhou Guanyu was involved in one of the scariest crash Formula 1 had ever seen. There was a multi-car accident at the British Grand Prix last season. The Alfa Romeo driven by Zhou was clipped by George Russell’s Mercedes. Zhou’s car flipped over due to the impact. It crushed the roll hoop above his head. The car then hurtled upside down at high speed across the gravel trap.
The halo was smashed repeatedly against the ground. The car then struck the barriers and launched into the fence. The Alfa Romeo came to a halt and was stuck between the barriers and the fence in a narrow space. Zhou Guanyu was unable to get out of the car and was stuck in the cockpit. Thankfully, he survived the crash.
The FIA has modified the regulations of crash testing for the roll hoop this season. This has been carried out by reducing the height. A revised homologation test will be applied. There will be other changes to the structure in 2024. Silverstone Circuit has modified the first corner runoff. The gravel bed, approximately 45 meters deep, will be removed and replaced by a large section of asphalt.
Related: Lady-boss: FIA makes historic F1 Sports Commissioner appointment for Las Vegas GP
Silverstone’s managing director reveals the “digging” was the real issue
Stuart Pringle, the Silvertone managing director, told Motorsport.com, “We’ve done a load of work this winter. There’s a big piece of asphalt out the front rather than the gravel. This is to stop them digging in. It’s the digging in a bit that was the real issue there.” There will be steps taken to prevent such incidents from happening again. Formula 1 aims to put the safety of the drivers before anything else.
The Silverstone boss also spoke about the redevelopment proposal for the London Docklands. There have been several pitches from people for an F1 race in London; it includes former boss Bernie Ecclestone targeting a city-center circuit. When Silverstone signed its new contract with Liberty Media in 2019, some provisions were included to protect the historic venue and the famous landmarks.
The latest proposals for a London Grand Prix have been treated with skepticism. The project bakers LDN Collective and DAR have not made contact with the championship organizers yet. Meanwhile, Stuart Pringle does not think these plans would gain financial backing. He feels it is another property developer trying to get their property deal. The renders feature floating grandstands and an elevated pitlane that runs through the first floor of the ExCeL.
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Sugantha Meena
(493 Articles Published)