Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel has given the FIA’s ‘shield’ cockpit protection device its on-track debut during first practice at Silverstone.
F1 has been looking to bring in improved cockpit protection and the FIA extensively tested the ‘halo’ device, which included FP1 runs.
The plan was to introduce it for 2017 but this was pushed back and then abandoned in order to find a better solution.
The FIA then revealed a new device was being considered and developed; dubbed the ‘shield’, it is similar to ‘aeroscreen’ canopy trialled by Red Bull in early 2016, but extends further down the nose.
The shield has emerged as the clear favourite so far and there are plans for it to be tested on track later this year, but a development version of the device was run on Friday morning.
Vettel emerged from his Ferrari garage in FP1 for the British Grand Prix with his SF70H sporting the shield device.
He completed one, slow installation lap with the device before pitting, where it was then removed.
