Former Red Bull stalwart Mark Webber believes critics of the new 'Halo' cockpit safety concept are prematurely judging the novel device, and should remain open-minded until more extensive work and analysis is conducted.
When Ferrari mounted the 'Halo' on its SF16-H last week in Barcelona to test the concept, it created a great divide of opinions among paddock pundits and drivers.
Some, like Sebastia Vettel and Nico Rosberg, expressed positive commentary, both on the approach as well as on the concept itself while others thoroughly dissented.
Lewis Hamilton outright slammed the safety feature, labeling it as the "worst looking mod in F1 history", while Nico Hulkenberg was also unimpressed, believing that F1 must retain an element of danger to keep it appealing.
Mark Webber, who will be visiting a series of races this season as a prominent member of Channel 4's new lineup, believes the 'Halo' is still a work in progress and that more time is required before a firm decision is applied.
"We have just gone through a really tough run of bad accidents... a lot of tragic stories here," the Aussie told Motorpsort.com.
"So we can't sit on our hands and say we shouldn't learn from any of these scenarios. With the Halo, it was an extremely open first attempt at trying to protect a lot of the scenarios we saw.
"Would it protect Felipe's [Massa] issue? There might still be a window for something like that to happen. Is it the entrant step to finally be fully closed? Could well be. But I think you're always going to be divided on it."
Webber believes that regardless of what anyone thinks of the Halo's aesthetics, at the end of the day, safety must prevail.
"I'm a purist, if you look at the motorbike guys, they can't believe what we're doing. But in the end it's got to be so safe.
"And that's always again the balancing act, isn't it? It's tricky - I can't give you an answer, mate.
"I carried Justin Wilson's coffin, I don't want that to happen again but... you take that [Halo] system to Eau Rouge as well, the viewing, we know with the sportscar it's very tricky to see in certain corners and profiles.
"So I think it's an evolving situation. It's very emotional, a hot topic. But I think some sense will come with the aesthetics and... I believe it's a halfway step, but it's a hard balance."
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