Calcutta: Former Formula One star Felipe Massa acknowledged the need of the 'halo' in F1 cars and praised the cockpit protection device after seeing the role it played in the crash at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Massa, who suffered a serious head injury when he was hit by debris in qualifying for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, tweeted: "After seeing this we can say the halo is beautiful!"

The first corner crash was initiated by Renault's Nico Hulkenberg, who locked up his front wheels.

The German hit Fernando Alonso's McLaren, sending it sailing over the top of Charles Leclerc's Sauber. Fortunately, the drivers escaped unhurt.

Images of Leclerc's car after the crash showed clear markings on the right side of the Sauber's halo, caused by Alonso's McLaren.

"Definitely, the halo probably helped today," Leclerc told the media when asked about the crash, while Alonso called the incident "good proof" of the efficacy of the system.

"We didn't need any proof but it's a good thing," he said.

Leclerc later tweeted: "End of the race in the 1st corner. Frustrating. Never been a fan of the halo but I have to say that I was very happy to have it over my head today !"

Away from the racetrack, 2016 F1 world champion Nico Rosberg was one of several former F1 drivers who took to Twitter to praise the system following the accident, writing: "We can end the HALO discussion now. It will save lives!"

Former Marussia F1 driver Max Chilton added: "And people still think race cars shouldn't have them. We could have lost another fantastic talent today without it [the halo]."