Honda protege Makino: Halo saved my life in F2 sprint race crash
Honda protege Tadasuke Makino believes the 2018 Formula 2 car's halo cockpit protection device saved his life, after Nirei Fukuzumi's car landed on his cockpit in a terrifying crash
Makino was pushed wide at the exit of Turn 4 in Sunday's sprint race by Arden racer Fukuzumi, who was then launched into the air after the two banged wheels.
Fukuzumi's left-rear wheel struck Makino's F2 2018 on the halo, while the engine cover and sidepod were also scarred.
The two cars landed next to one another and ended up in the gravel. Neither driver was injured.
When asked if the halo had saved his life, Russian Time driver Makino told Autosport: "I think so, yeah.
"The first time I tested this car I didn't think the halo was good, because it's difficult to see anything, but today the halo helped me.
"It's really important. I understand how the halo works now.
"I don't know what happened, but without the halo I think the tyre would have hit my helmet.
"It was a big surprise, the halo was a big help for me."
Formula 2 race director Charlie Whiting confirmed the incident would be investigated.
"Judging by the photos we've seen and the accident itself it looks very much as if it could have been a lot worse without the halo," said Whiting.
"That's the preliminary findings but where you see the tyre marks start on the bodywork behind and all the way down the side of the halo, where they start on the halo is exactly where one of the two test loads is applied.
"Even if it didn't actually save his life it could have been nasty without the halo, judging by the tracks."
Halo affected Russell's wet judgement
F2 Feature race winner George Russell believes the halo makes it more difficult to judge how much rain is falling during a race.
The Mercedes Formula 1 junior won Saturday's race for ART Grand Prix, claiming his second win of the season, after rain had spotted the track.
"Carlos Sainz [Jr] made a good point at the start of the year," he said.
"With the halo, there's less chance of rain touching your visor, potentially the halo is blocking the rain drops and it might be raining harder than you think.
"As a driver, that's our only reference [droplets on the helmet].
"Turn 3 and Turn 4 there was a fair bit of rain coming down. It wasn't really enough to affect us but when you see it on your visor it plays on your mind.
"On the grid it was coming down and there was certainly tense."
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