The chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, Alexander Wurz, has claimed that drivers are pushing for better head protection to be introduced as early as 2017.
The push for increased head protection comes after several deaths and serious injuries as a result of having open cockpits, including the tragic loss of Jules Bianchi last year.
Bianchi lost his 10 month battle to stay alive in July 2015, after crashing into a recovery vehicle at the Japanese Grand Prix. Just a month after, former F1 driver Justin Wilson died after being struck by debris in an IndyCar race.
One idea to increase safety in F1 is to create a ‘halo’ device that would sit above the driver’s head and offer some protection from debris, as well as help prevent more incidents like Bianchi’s.
Wurz told the BBC: “The drivers feel it’s time to implement the extra protection at the latest in 2017.
“The research the FIA experts have done is very thorough and the process has brought forward a clear solution.
“Obviously structural changes are required to the chassis but, with almost a one-year lead time, I don’t see any technical person speaking against such substantial safety improvements, especially given the last big accidents in open-wheel racing involved head injuries.”
Formula One’s technical leaders will be meeting on Friday, where these ideas will be discussed, alongside some other changes to the sport in attempt to make it more dramatic.
