Fernando Alonso crashes out of Belgian GP on first turn after collision

Fernando Alonso endured a nightmare start to the Belgian Grand Prix as he crashed out of the race on the first lap after a collision with Nico Hulkenburg.

On what could well be his final appearance as an F1 driver at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, the Spaniard’s challenge was halted at the very first turn as Hulkenburg went into the back of his McLaren car.

The collision saw Alonso’s vehicle fly over the top of Sauber’s Charles Leclerc and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, who also got caught up in the cross fire and ended up with a flat right rear tyre. 

Fellow driver Nico Hulkenburg went into the back of Alonso’s McLaren car on turn one

 Alonso, Hulkenburg and Sauber’s Charles Leclerc were all unable to continue in Belgium

Race organisers soon deployed a safety car on lap three in an attempt to maintain order

Hulkenburg and Leclerc joined Alonso in being unable to continue, with Grand Prix organisers deploying a safety car soon after in an attempt to maintain order.

F1 chiefs, though, will feel vindicated in their decision to bring in the controversial cockpit safety device known as ‘halo’ for the 2018 season.

The three-pronged device which runs at approximately head height around the cockpit has courted criticism from the likes of Lewis Hamilton, who described it as the ‘worst-looking modification’ in the sport’s history.

But with the ‘halo’ in place, Alonso was able to avoid serious injury following Sunday’s crash, staying securely in his car instead of hurling out of it in the fall.

Amid the chaos, Sebastian Vettel managed to pass title rival Lewis Hamilton on the Kemmel Straight to assume an early lead.

Hamilton, who took poll in Saturday’s qualifying, held a 24-point lead heading into Sunday’s race.

 Live images showed Alonso’s car flying over a number of other vehicles following the crash

 Smoke was also seen coming from McLaren driver Alonso’s car (front) after the incident