Bottas unaffected by Halo in race simulation test

Valtteri Bottas did a full race simulation on board Mercedes' new Halo-equipped W09, and reported no issues related to the cockpit protection device.

Formula 1 teams have faced an engineering challenge to properly integrate the Halo into their 2018 designs, but from the drivers' perspective, most generally reported an unobstructed view last year during on-track trials.

Bottas confirmed the impression after recently enjoying a trouble-free run in the Mercedes simulator.

"In the simulator I’ve done a race simulation already with the Halo, and I have to say during the race I never noticed it anymore,' says Bottas.

"Once you get used to it, it’s there and you get used to it, I think that’s going to be the same for the spectators.

"Initially, it’s something new, it looks different – some people say it’s not nice at all.

"But I think it’s only a matter of time everyone will get used to it, and if it can avoid even one injury – big or small – it’s a good device."

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Williams tech boss Paddy Lowe echoed the Finn's opinion, insisting the safety component which stirred so much controversy last year will just fade into the background after a few races.

"I’ve been a big supporter of making some improvement in that area which is the biggest remaining risk in Formula 1 to the drivers," Lowe told Reuters.

"I think by the second race nobody will notice it any more."

Lowe also insists on the component's purpose which far outweighs any aesthetic drawback.

"We’ve had roughly once per year, for the last two years that I’ve been looking out, an event where you go ‘that really was lucky, someone got away with it there’.

"I think it would only be a matter of time before we weren’t saying somebody’s been lucky, but they were unlucky. So that’s a really good project."

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