Hulkenberg prefers Aeroscreen to Halo

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Nico Hulkenberg would prefer the Aeroscreen is introduced as cockpit protection in F1 rather than the Halo concept.

Red Bull tested the Aeroscreen device during Daniel Ricciardo's installation lap in FP1 at the Russian Grand Prix on Friday, analysing visibility for the driver in the same way Ferrari had done with the Halo during pre-season testing in Barcelona.

Red Bull Aeroscreen debuts in Russia

Hulkenberg was outspoken in his desire not to see cockpit protection introduced in F1 when the Halo was tested - something which actually drew a reaction from Ricciardo - but the German says he would be in favour of the Red Bull solution now he concedes its introduction is inevitable.

"From the renders I have seen on the internet it looks better, more attractive for my tastes," Hulkenberg said before Friday practice. "I think it’s unavoidable that it comes so that would be my preferred option."

And while Hulkenberg acknowledges there are still question marks over having a physical screen such as keeping it clean, but believes solutions will be found as part of the testing.

"There are things you have to look at – rain with the speeds gets washed away. Now in the race we have tear offs but there you won’t be able to pull it off yourself. At pit stops somebody can take it off in between but this is all subjects that can now come up."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.