SILVERSTONE, England — The British Grand Prix was halted before the end of the first lap after two huge collisions involving multiple pit-right drivers saw Zhou Guanyu’s Alfa Romeo end up on the wrong side of the barriers with tires on turn 1.
Emergency crews arrived immediately, with Zhou and Williams driver Alex Albon taken to the medical centre. Both were cleared of serious injuries, but Albon will be transferred to Coventry Hospital for precautionary checks, while Zhou was released from the medical center during the race.
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A replay showed Pierre Gasly sandwiched between George Russell on one side and Jow on the other, with contact between Gasly and Russell throwing Russell’s Mercedes into Jow’s Alfa Romeo.
The energy of the second impact flipped Zhou’s car, sending it upside down through the run-off area before rolling through the barriers, only to be stopped by the catch fence in front of a grandstand.
Ben Stansol/AFP
Albon was involved in a separate incident just minutes later when he slammed on the brakes for the initial kick and Sebastian Vettel piled into the back of his Williams. The collision pushed Albon into the pit wall before he spun back onto the track and collided with Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon.
Tsunoda, Ocon and Gasly were able to continue back to the pits while Zhou, Albon and Russell were out of the race on the spot.
Soon after the collisions, the race was suspended as the leaders headed into the Wellington Straight, cutting the race short.
Apart from the clashes, protesters also invaded the track further around the lap.
The race resumed at 15:56 local time.
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