Zhou Guanyu’s car overturned and stuck behind the tire barriers in a horrific crash at the 2022 British GP; Silverstone has now changed the turn one run-off section; You can watch every session of the British GP live on Sky Sports F1 and free on Sky Showcase this weekend
18:46, UK, Thursday 06 July 2023
Alfa Romeo driver Joe Guanyu says he is returning to Silverstone „with a bit more emotion than usual” a year on from his horrific crash.
Zho was involved in one of F1’s worst crashes at last year’s British Grand Prix as his car flipped through contact at the start of the race, went through the gravel and then over the tire barriers. Then it was caught in the catch fencing and in a small gap in front of the spectators.
After a tense wait, Zhou was eventually rescued from the car and, incredibly, suffered no significant injuries.
The Chinese driver did not see the incident again as Silverstone made corrections to the Turn One run-off area to try to prevent a similar incident from happening in the future.
„For me to even think about what happened that day, I have to say exactly what happened,” Joe said ahead of this weekend’s race.
„At the minute it’s out of my mind, it’s behind it, it’s in the past. Obviously it always feels a bit more emotional than coming back to Silverstone. I’m looking forward to it because last year was good. Run before what happened on Sunday. I like the track in general.
“Fortunately not [had dreams of the incident]. What I did was, after Sunday I was at the medical center and I saw what happened because someone hit me from behind. When this happened, I knew what happened to flip me over, and from that day to this day, I have never seen any video of the incident.
„It was a big accident, certainly a terrible one, but nothing has distracted me since.”
Craig Slater explains how Zhou’s car flipped upside down and over barriers during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone
What changed in turn one?
The straight-ahead gravel section in the run-off at Turn 1 has been replaced with a 40x40m asphalt section.
Jav’s car dug into the gravel trap, overturning the tire barriers and into the catch fence behind.
„They’ve taken some action in terms of the turn one run-off area. That’s the right direction for us if something happens,” Joe said.
Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle said in April: „We’ve done a lot of work this winter.
„There’s a bigger asphalt in the forecourt than gravel.
„It should prevent them from digging. Bit digging is the real issue there.”
Damon Hill and Martin Brundle think they are making this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone very special.
Sky Sports F1’s live British GP schedule (all F1 sessions on Sky Showcase)
Friday July 7th
8:40am: F3 exercise
10 am: F2 exercise
12pm: British GP practice one (session starts at 12:30pm)
2.05pm: F3 Qualifying
3pm: F2 Qualifying
3.40pm: British GP practice two (session starts at 4pm)
Saturday 8th July
9:15 am: F3 sprint
11.15am: British GP practice three (session starts at 11.30am)
1:10pm: F2 Sprint
2:15 pm: British GP qualifying build-up
3 pm: British GP Qualifiers
5.00 pm: Dead qualification notebook
Saturday 8th July
9:15 am: F3 sprint
11.15am: British GP practice three (session starts at 11.30am)
1:10pm: F2 Sprint
2:15 pm: British GP qualifying build-up
3 pm: British GP Qualifiers
5.00 pm: Dead qualification notebook
Sunday 9th July
8:10 am: F3 feature race
9:50am: F2 feature race
11:50 am: Porsche Supercup
1:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday – British GP build-up
3pm: British Grand Prix
5pm: Checked flag: British GB reaction
6pm: Ted’s Notebook
Next up on the F1 calendar is the big one, Silverstone. Don’t miss the British GP live on Sky Sports from 7-9 July