Drivers not united on 'halo' safety concept

While the FIA continues its research on its devised 'halo' concept scheduled to be introduced in 2017, several drivers have voiced their opposition to the cockpit protection device.

Former F1 driver Alex Wurz, who leads the Grand Prix Drivers Association, recently declared his satisfaction with the ongoing research and development of the 'halo' safety approach, hoping its final approval for 2017 would be a mere formality.

Wurz's comments were pretty much echoed by most F1 drivers, but there have been afew dissdent vocies.

Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg is resolutely against the new safety protection: "It’s just a personal thing. I don’t like it. For me, it (the F1 cockpit) should be open," said the German.

Renault's Jolyon Palmer was also in the opposition camp.

"For me, safety is obviously on the agenda, but it is not a massive concern," said the Bristish driver.

"I think Indycar is quite different to F1 in that point of view. A car (in Indycar) hits the wall on the outside and all the debris has nowhere to go apart from back on the circuit.

"If you have an accident in F1, by and large if you hit a wall you are quite a long way from the track.

"I think we need to be careful not to go away from what F1 has always been, which is an open cockpit."

Mercedes had initially offered a mock-up version to the FIA of the 'halo' concet but it is understood that Red Bull Racing have also submitted their own vision on the device hwich should be revealed in the near future.

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