Video: Zhou Guanyu's Terrifying Crash on Opening Lap Mars F1 British Grand Prix

Alfa Romeo rookie Zhou Guanyu escaped serious injury in one of Formula 1’s most terrifying crashes—one that caused an immediate red flag on the opening lap of Sunday's F1 British Grand Prix and a delay of almost an hour.

Off the start, AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly went for a gap between the slow-starting George Russell and Zhou, but before the Frenchman could back out the gap closed, pitching Russell into the side of Zhou. That impact flipped Zhou at high speed, with the Chinese racer sliding through the gravel upside down, before hitting the tire barrier.

Such was the force that Zhou’s car cleared the barrier and came to a halt in the fence, just a few feet from photographers, and just in front of a spectator grandstand. It was an extraordinary image and fortunately word emerged that Zhou had not sustained serious injury.