Having been introduced in Formula One in 2018, the halo has provided a 17% increase in the survival rate of the driver. F1Technical’s senior writer Balazs Szabo explains how the head protection device has changed motorsport.
Formula 1 is built on speed, precision, and constant innovation, but it has also been shaped by tragedy. Over the decades, several fatal accidents forced the sport to rethink how it protects its drivers.
Out of this long journey came one of the most important safety devices ever introduced in motorsport: the halo. While simple in appearance, the halo is a highly engineered structure designed to withstand forces far beyond what a Formula 1 car normally experiences.
The Incidents That Changed F1 Safety Forever
The modern push for stronger cockpit protection began in 1994 after the death of Ayrton Senna at Imola. His accident led to major changes in car construction, cockpit reinforcement, and track design. But even with these improvements, the sport faced another devastating loss in 2014 when Jules Bianchi suffered fatal injuries at Suzuka. His crash highlighted a critical vulnerability: the driver’s head remained exposed to large objects and structural intrusions.
This incident accelerated the development of a new head‑protection system — one that could withstand extreme loads without compromising visibility or performance.
The Halo: A Titanium Safety Cell Around the Driver
Introduced in 2018, the halo is now one of the strongest components on an F1 car. Despite weighing less than 10 kilograms, it is capable of absorbing forces that would crush most metal structures.
The halo is made from Ti‑6Al‑4V grade‑5 titanium, an alloy used in aerospace and military applications. The structure is manufactured from a single piece of titanium tubing, bent and machined with millimetre‑level precision.
The final component is produced using 5‑axis CNC machining, ensuring uniform strength and eliminating weak points.
The FIA requires the halo to survive forces far beyond what a car would normally encounter:
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Front load test: 125 kN (equivalent to 12.7 tons) applied to the front of the halo.
Side load test: 93 kN applied laterally to simulate a wheel impact.
Rollover test: 116 kN applied to the top to ensure survival in an inverted crash.
These loads are applied without the structure being allowed to deform more than a few millimetres. The halo must remain intact and must not detach from the chassis under any circumstances.
How the Halo Transfers Energy
The halo is not just a protective bar — it is part of the car’s primary load path. It is bolted to the survival cell, the strongest part of the chassis. The mounting points are reinforced with carbon‑fibre layups that spread impact forces across the monocoque.
In a crash, the halo redirects energy around the cockpit, preventing objects from entering the driver’s space. This integration is so strong that the halo effectively becomes a structural extension of the monocoque.
Visibility and Aerodynamics
Although the central pillar sits directly in front of the driver, visibility is not significantly affected. Drivers report that the brain quickly “filters out” the pillar, similar to ignoring the A‑pillars in a road car.
Aerodynamically, the halo creates airflow disturbances, so teams add small aero fairings (allowed by the regulations) to smooth the wake and reduce drag. These fairings are made from carbon fibre and weigh only a few hundred grams.
A Defining Moment: Grosjean’s 2020 Crash
The halo’s value became undeniable during the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix. Romain Grosjean’s car pierced a steel barrier at high speed, splitting the chassis in half.
The halo absorbed the initial impact, prevented the barrier from striking Grosjean’s head, and created a survival space that allowed him to escape the fire. FIA simulations later showed that without the halo, the outcome would have been fatal.
From Controversy to Acceptance
When the halo was first introduced, many fans and drivers criticised its appearance. Some argued it ruined the look of the cars, while others questioned whether it belonged in Formula 1 at all. But as more incidents demonstrated its effectiveness, attitudes changed.
Today, the halo is widely recognised as one of the most important safety innovations in the sport’s history. It has already prevented serious injuries in multiple accidents, including wheel strikes, barrier intrusions, and car‑to‑car impacts.
A Safer Future Built on Engineering
The halo represents the best of Formula 1 engineering: a simple‑looking device backed by complex design, rigorous testing, and lessons learned from the sport’s hardest moments. It is a reminder that safety in F1 is not static — it evolves with every crash, every analysis, and every breakthrough.
While Formula 1 will always involve risk, the halo ensures that drivers now have a far better chance of walking away from accidents that once would have been fatal. It stands as a symbol of the sport’s commitment to protecting its competitors without compromising the essence of racing.