Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel has suggested that drivers should be allowed their own personalised halo design, in order to aid identification.
Formula 1 has introduced the head protection device this year, with the system wrapping around the cockpit in the form of three struts.
Teams have taken different approaches regarding the aesthetic implementation of the halo, with some – such as Ferrari and Force India – colouring it the same as their livery, while others have left it black.
McLaren, meanwhile, has signed a flip-flop manufacturer for Australia, a nod to the manner in which the shape of the device resembles the footwear product.
One element that arose during pre-season testing was the difficulty in identifying the occupant of a car, due to the halo acting as a shield to a driver’s helmet.
Vettel reckons drivers “should be allowed to design the halo.
“Obviously we can’t negotiate the position of the halo, we can’t put it at the back of the car.
“I don’t know, maybe it should be up to us to design the halo, I don’t know. That could be an idea, just to add an element to what makes it different from the rest.”
Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo echoed the sentiments of his ex-team-mate.
“The only thing I could think of was putting something on the halo to distinguish team-mates,” said Ricciardo.
“On the T-camera sometimes one driver has yellow so you can kind of tell a little bit there so maybe [we should] do something between team-mates with the halos, just to give fans a little bit of an idea who’s behind the wheel because yeah, you don’t really see the helmet now?
“We are pretty hidden. Yeah, that’s all I can think of for now short term.”
Reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton added: “It’s almost pointless of us painting the helmets nowadays so I’m probably going to get rid of my paint on mine. It saves weight.
“I don’t really have a suggestion for it. I’m sure they’ll come up with something.”
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