It's Official: 'Closed Cockpits' In Formula 1 Are Happening

On Tuesday it was reported that a new elimination-style qualifying format had been approved for 2016 following meetings of the Strategy Group and F1 Commission. Now we have confirmation of that, as well as several other potential big changes for next year.

Cockpit safety has been a hot topic in single-seater racing for some time, but pressure to bring in more driver protection unsurprisingly increased following the tragic deaths of Jules Bianchi – nine months after his horrific Japanese Grand Prix crash in October 2014 – and IndyCar’s Justin Wilson in 2015.

Motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, and F1 teams have invested heavily in researching and analysing different options for cockpit safety, in a bid to provide drivers with improved safety while preventing side-effects like compromised vision and difficulty in driver extraction.

Various different designs have appeared in recent months, from halo-style concepts to jet canopies. The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association has also completed research and stated at the beginning of the year that it was time something to shield the cockpit was introduced.

The FIA’s statement on the results of the F1 Commission meeting in Geneva says it “intends” to introduce some form of cockpit protection in 2017, with the halo being the “preferred choice”, but other options will continue to be looked into.

The unusual elimination-style qualifying format has now been confirmed and could “potentially” debut as early as this season. Meanwhile a “Driver of the Day” award will be handed out at each race, voted by the fans. The deadline for the 2017 regulations has been deferred to the 30 April.

Meanwhile bodywork changes have been proposed, with wider front wings, lower and wider rear wings, wider floors and tyres, in a bid to increase top speeds and cut lap times. But all of these rules still have to be ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council before becoming a reality.