When Romain Grosjean's Haas car split in two and burst into flames during the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, it was the titanium halo that ultimately saved his life. But what few people know is that a groundbreaking welding technique played a crucial role in making the halo strong enough to perform as designed in that terrifying moment.
The halo, now an essential part of Formula 1's safety package, faced strong opposition when it was first introduced in 2018. However, several high-profile crashes - including Grosjean's fiery accident, Zhou Guanyu's dramatic flip at Silverstone in 2022, and the Verstappen-Hamilton clash at Monza in 2021 - have since silenced the critics. The cockpit protection device has proven its worth time and again.
