F1 selects Halo cockpit protection over Aeroscreen for 2017 | FOX Sports
So a screen that actually looked acceptable or an abomination with a nice blindspot. Not sure why I'm surprised the powers that be chose the latter....
I understand their decision. The aeroscreen needed some work to solve some issues (visibility with rain and dirt and impact on the aero of the car, specially on the intake scoop), while the thong is ready to go. It's horrible anyway and I'd prefer to postpone the decision until a suitable and good looking option was available.
People are too obsessed by the aesthetics and ignore the benefits of the halo; it's all about improving safety, not the look. It's an engineering solution, not "haute couture".
Dont get me wrong. I don't think anyone in the forum here wants any driver to die to have massive head injuries. But this is a complete knee jerk reaction. There were two choices, and i'm sure most people preferred the aero screen. But hey..they decided to go the other way round and use a slipper instead. In fact, i don't mind a closed cockpit, LMP style. What i can't stand is this sudden ugly reaction, that barely protects anything.
They haven't solved yet the visibility issue with the aero screen. It's alright doing 2 laps with it, but what about a whole race in the pack, with rubber, oil and various debris flying about and smearing it. Will we have aero screen tear-offs ? At least the halo doesn't have such problem to solve.
Post # 2 haha. I hope the final design doesn't have that thong pillar in the middle....blocking driver sight line.
Given enough time, F-1 engineers may come up with a halo design that is more incorporated into the overall design of the cars. What we've seen so far from the Ferrari halo and Red Bull screen are simply after thoughts bolted onto the cars. Neither being very aesthetically pleasing but none the less function as a safety device. There will be improvements on these designs and before we know it, these halos will become routine sights in F-1 and throughout open wheeled racing eventually. Both Ferrari and Red Bull only did installation laps with these devices as they both reported that they interrupted their aero set ups. Let's see what they come up with more time. BHW
LeMans drivers seem to have no issues getting through their hour long stints and using tear offs... don't see how f1 cant do the same. 2 hours max usually with at least 2 pits. Likely wouldn't ever get that bad.
yap ,and with the areroscreen Elton can no longer say something got into his eye whenever Nico is trouncing him....
Neither Kimi or Seb mentioned anything about the centre pillar in the middle blocking their sight line so where have you got that information from? The centre pillar is designed to sit at a point where Human binocular vision counteracts it, so it causes no problem with site lines at all. position support posts anywhere else (one either side of the cockpit opening for example), and you will encounter site line issues. Added to all of that, the device that Ferrari ran was just a mock up to get an idea if there were any vision issues. Bizarrely, everyone seems to think it is the actual definitive design that will be used.
FIA simulated Alonso's Australian GP crash with halo I think a single top bar from the airbox that splits in two towards the windscreen would be better
I think it's funny that no one even considers closed wheel cars, I mean that is flat-out blasphemy, and I will probably be run out of town on a rail for posting this. Open wheels add much more risk and stifle true wheel-to-wheel action, but it's treated like it's some sort of mandatory feature. Whereas an open cockpit, which has many advantages from the driver's seat, is seen as an undue risk. I'd rather see the driver when I am watching, and I'd rather them race in close quarters without fear of a puncture or punted front wing. And as a racer, I will run my open car (despite the risks) until they force me out. Leave the cockpit open, close the wheels, remove the wings, get your downforce from under the car. Safer, faster, more exciting. Or run this ridiculous thing so you can feel the history. Boggles my mind.
Open wheel racing is a "type" of racing. Close in the wheels and you no longer have open wheel racing. I think there are plenty of things that are dangerous in F1. The sloped noses that submarine under cars... which we've seen a few times now in the past 3 years...yet no one cares about that. The chances of a piece of car coming down and hitting you on the head as you drive by at 100+ miles per hour are so remote. The instances where that happened were just such a tragic chain of events... much like Bianchi's crash where there were multiple reasons that all had to chain themselves together. A driver is much more likely to be injured by debris hitting him in the face... carbon and other pieces of the cars that break off that can hit a driver is far more likely than something hitting them on top of the head. I just don't get the halo. If anything... the windscreen is far better.
Closing the cockpit will not change the way the guys drive; closing the wheels will. Even high level GT, DTM, prototypes, sports cars, etc - people rub each other. You rub in an open wheel car and you may be going to a ride; even if not you are risking ending your race. That being said, I've always been against closing the cockpit. If they force Halos on the cars I drive, I would just switch to a sports car at that point in all likelihood.
Windscreen looks better for sure...but will have issue with rain, etc. Also, in testing the FIA found that the drivers helmet could make contact in a crash. So it needs a major redesign as well.
