Massa repeats firm stance on 'Halo' concept

Felipe Massa is backing once again the introduction in Formula 1 of the 'Halo' cockpit protection device, favouring the concept tested by Ferrari rather than Red Bull's own 'windshield' design proposal.

Massa's stance is no surprise of course given that the Brazilian was the victim of a freak accident in qualifying Hungary in 2009, when he was directly hit at high speed by a spring from another car's rear suspension  which fractured his skull and almost permanently injured his left eye.

"I'm a big supporter of safety," Massa said.

"If we can save a life, or if we can make an accident not hurt the drivers, then I am in favour [of it].

"I don't think we really need to race in F1 just to risk your life, or to be in danger is nice for the people. I don't think it's really like that.

"That's why I am in favour of improving safety. If it's the halo, if it's whatever that we need to do to improve that... I lost a friend [Jules Bianchi] in F1.

"I don't know if the Halo would change anything for him, I don't think so, but I don't want to see these things happen again. If it can help, then I am in favour.

Massa also rejected the view expressed by some drivers - notably Nico Hulkenberg - who opposed the cockpit safety device because it departs from F1 tradition.

"I don't want to be the king, 'I don't need that, I want to race even without the helmet, I am the king.' I am not like that. I just want to make things better for the drivers and for the safety."

The Williams driver alluded to his 2009 accident and injury:  "I think if the spring hits something before it hits me, for sure I would have a lot less impact.

"The impact would be a lot smaller. It depends on which type of accident you have."

Massa however doubted the efficiency of a design presented, but not yet tested, by Red Bull to the FIA.

"The pictures I saw of Red Bull with those two things on the side, which is where we are always looking, maybe the visibility will be even worse. And it looks like a buggy.

"If it's better for the safety and we need to use it, I agree, but I think we need to use things that are not affecting the visibility of the driver.

"Plus the window in front, how it's going to be with the cooling and many other things; we need to understand how it's going to be as well.

"If we're not 100 percent sure what we're going to do, and the Halo is something that will be safer, maybe they can change something after one or two years. It's important to have that improvement."

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