There is fresh criticism of the “halo” device following a test by Sebastian Vettel this weekend. Both Vettel and Red Bull boss Christian Horner believe the head protection isn’t ready yet, whilst a number of other personnel in the sport are believed have misgivings about it.
Vettel ran the halo for a single lap in first practice session ahead of the British Grand Prix, after which he said he had concerns about the sensations it gave the driver.
“Forward visibility was fine,” he said. “But it was quite a bit on top of you, [even if] you are not looking at the sky all the time.
“It is clear what it is made for and what it is supposed to do, but we just need to make sure we introduce something safer in all circumstances and we don’t have any compromises.”
The halo is now the favourite head protection device to be introduced after Reb Bull stopped working on their alternative “aeroscreen” device.
“I am not a big fan of the halo and the limitations it has,” said team boss Horner. “It is an inelegant solution to the problem it is trying to deal with. I would prefer there to be more research time taken to do the job properly rather than rushing something through that may have other consequences. I certainly wouldn’t vote in favour of it.”
Time isn’t something the FIA plans to give the device, though. The F1 governing body wants the device introduced in 2017, but it still has to be formally approved by the strategy group, the F1 Commission, and the FIA World Council.
