Formula 1 drivers have gived a mixed reaction to the proposed 'shield' cockpit protection device, following the FIA's decision to back it over the 'halo' concept shown off and tested last year.
The halo, which up until last week was the preferred cockpit safety solution, has now been dumped in favour of a more aesthetically pleasing shield design. Although the official design hasn't been made public, it has been presented to the drivers and is more similar to the aeroscreen developed by Red Bull (above).
When asked for their opinion on the shield, drivers gave a mixed reaction, with some in favour and others strongly opposed.
"First impressions seem OK and I guess we’ll now try and get some development on that and then start to run it in some practices as soon as they can put it on the cars and then get some more feedback on it," commented Daniel Ricciardo in Russia.
"It looks alright actually. It’s good that they’re still obviously looking for this head protection stuff so that’s positive."
Sauber's Pascal Wehrlein, although yet to see the official design due to his absence in China, believes it's a better concept than the halo.
"I think the halo looked a bit strange so the version of last year of Red Bull. I liked it quite a lot, it looks like a spaceship and very futuristic. I liked it. If it looks similar, it’s good. If it’s more safe, it’s good for us drivers."
Haas' Romain Grosjean is however against any such device, adding: "Can we choose nothing? I haven’t been a big fan of the Halo and I’m not a huge fan of the shield either.
"I don’t want to stop the safety. I think safety in Formula 1 has to be the number one priority but I don’t want to change what I’ve known as F1 since ever and the next step is to put a closed canopy on top of the helmet and I don’t want to see F1 being closed cars."
Toro Rosso's Danil Kvyat agreed with the Frenchman: "I think it’s enough now [in terms of safety]. I think we have enough protection so far. Of course if there are good ideas they should be considered but so far I am quite against it to be honest, both of those options."
However Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas supports the decision to drop the halo in favour of the shield and believes it's important to keep pushing for a safer F1.
"I don’t mind the shield. I think it looks quite OK. I think it’s definitely a good step compared to the halo. That’s my personal view, how it looks, so I don’t mind that," said the Finn.
"I think the safety aspect is always important. It’s always important to keep things improving, developing – safety always needs to be improved. So I wouldn’t mind trying out the shield, seeing how is the visibility and if there are any other issues with that.
"But I think in terms of safety it would be a good step compared to what we have now."
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