This Is What Red Bull’s F1 Cockpit Protection Device Could Look Like
Earlier this month the FIA’s ‘halo’ cockpit protection prototype debuted during winter testing, with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel briefly trying it out in Spain. It certainly sparked quite a discussion, with the unusual looking device being the FIA’s preferred option to improve cockpit safety, which it is looking to introduce in 2017.
But Red Bull is said to be developing an alternative cockpit protector. Renowned technical F1 illustrator has produced these drawings for Motorsport.com of what the device, which team boss Christian Horner described as “more of a canopy – open topped - like a bigger windscreen” – could look like.
The acrylic canopy with an open top and two supports on either side, rather than the ‘halo’ design’s one middle support, is certainly a more elegant design but it still raises plenty of questions to do with safety and driver extraction.
Driver safety is a big topic following the tragic deaths of Jules Bianchi and Justin Wilson last year. The FIA intends to introduce a cockpit protector in 2017 but the ‘halo’ concept and prototype devices were met with mixed responses from drivers, as well as teams and fans.
Do you prefer this design or the ‘halo’? Let us know in the comments!
Comments
“Cockpit protection device” its a bloody windscreen
That’s exactly what I was thinking
Well they have to came with fancy name. Because F1.
Looks better then those Halo’s
I hope someday F1 use own design like redbull x1
The world’s fastest roadster…
It has a very old school fighter pilot look to it
How do you get out when the car crashes upside down?
The computer has calculated that the racing suits will protect them in an upside down fire!!
This is getting stupid, where is the fun and the entertaiment of watching a race with noiseless cars with small engines and full safety… Soon they will be racing from simulators…
Better looking, however, may increase drag
The f1 cars need to be faster, push the limit and i after this i can understand thi but i prefer the mclaren idea
Or the Red Bull that is in GT6
Do you realise that if it had full cockpit it wouldn’t be Open Wheel anymore?
Nice, now close it completely and let’s put a Diesel engine in it and! To make it even better let’s put the two drivers in one car and they take turns then we make them race for 24 hours in a let’s say important course maybe La Sartre. And we call it 24 hours of lemans… Why hasn’t anybody thought about this ?