Todt to consider closed cockpits only with safety guarantees

FIA President Jean Todt has said that while the concept of closed cockpits destined to increase driver safety is still under consideration, its eventual future introduction would only take place if maximum safety guarantees are achieved.

The FIA's concern for protecting drivers in single-seater racing stemmed from the tragic accidents which cost involved the deaths of Jules Bianchi and Indycar driver Justin Wilson.

Last October, the FIA revealed that it was investigating several potential closed cockpit solutions, with each one scheduled to be thoroughly tried and tested in November.

While the results of the practical tests have yet to be revealed, the FIA's evaluation remains ongoing with Formula 1's sanctioning body determined to select a design which meets unanimous consent and the most stringent safety requirements.

Todt himself will accept no compromise regarding safety, whether it is related to visibility issues or concerns centered around how easily and swiftly a driver will be enabled to exit a cockpit.

"We have put in a lot of effort, but motorsport remains a dangerous sport," Todt told Autosport magazine.

"If there are further steps that need to be taken to improve safety then we will go for it, but we have to make sure there are not other consequences. When you implement a new regulation you must ensure you have vision in case of any issues.

"We are in the hands of the experts, and we will have one outcome which will allow us to judge if it's worth making a change, making modifications or we keep the status quo.

"There are different ways of protecting a driver, but we must ensure there are no negative effects. We have a specific department, people I trust completely, and I will see what are the outcomes when we have a final proposal.

"What we want to achieve is an improvement on safety. I have raised a problem, so now it is up to people to propose solutions."

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