The Chinese driver, who had started ninth, overturned on the way down to Abbey, the first corner of the Silverstone track, when the drivers were fighting for the start.
His car ran over gravel upside down before rolling over the security barriers and ending up on its side, having been stopped only by the security fence.
A red flag was raised almost immediately and both track marshals and medical personnel rushed to the scene. Guanyu Zhou was removed from the car and taken to the circuit medical center.
In a statement, the FIA confirmed that there were no serious injuries, saying “the driver of car 24 (Zhou) is under observation at the medical center.”
Once the Chinese driver passed the medical checks, the FIA released the following information: “The driver of car 24 (Zhou) has been declared fit and has been discharged from the medical center.”
The accident was caused by Pierre Gasly, who was starting behind Zhou, and who was caught between the Alfa Romeo on his left and George Russell’s Mercedes on his right, en route to Turn 1.
Gasly touched Russell’s left rear tire as the Mercedes turned its wheel, causing the Briton to collide with Zhou from the left, and the Alfa Romeo flipped.
Russell stopped on the outside of the first corner with his left rear tire coming off the rim. Seeing that Zhou’s car had been thrown over the tire barriers, Russell jumped out of his car and ran to check on the Chinese driver.
Further back, another incident occurred, as Alex Albon’s Williams crashed into the pit wall after being hit from behind by Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin.
Albon’s damaged car was rammed by other cars as it circled outwards, with Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon caught in the melee.
The exit incident seen from behind. The pilots involved were Guanyu Zhou, George Russell, Esteban Ocon, Yuki Tsunoda, and Alex Albon.
An FIA statement confirmed that both Zhou and Albon were conscious after the incidents and were undergoing a medical check by circuit staff.
“The FIA advises that following the incident at the start of the race, the emergency teams responded immediately and the drivers of car 23 (Albon) and car 24 (Zhou) have been transferred to the medical centre,” the statement said.
“Both drivers were conscious and will be evaluated at the medical center. Further updates will be given in due course.”
The Alfa Romeo team later told Zhou’s teammate Valtteri Bottas: “Zhou is conscious, he is speaking, there are no fractures. Considering the circumstances, he is quite well, quite well.”
Later on, track officials and police had to deal with protesters who invaded the track on the first lap after the red flag was raised.
An F1 statement said: “We can confirm that after the red flag, a number of people attempted to enter the track.
“These people were immediately expelled and the matter is being dealt with by the local authorities.”
