ATL11
Pole Sitter
So we've seen in Barca testing, the first pictures of the Halo version 1.
Now I know the key to this device is the safety of the driver's head!
So after the initial pictures emerged, the media came out with everything positive about this device. But now after Kimi's testing, see below (thanks Getty), even some of the F1 drivers are saying the design needs to be reviewed due to vision & aesthetics.
But this has me thinking, looking at the Halo & we know that Red Bull may test another safety device in April, which is rumored to look like a cut down Fighter Jet canopy. How does F1 balance safety vs aesthetics?
I must admit myself, first impressions is it looks quirky & I understand why it is there, but a few questions:
Now I know the key to this device is the safety of the driver's head!
So after the initial pictures emerged, the media came out with everything positive about this device. But now after Kimi's testing, see below (thanks Getty), even some of the F1 drivers are saying the design needs to be reviewed due to vision & aesthetics.
But this has me thinking, looking at the Halo & we know that Red Bull may test another safety device in April, which is rumored to look like a cut down Fighter Jet canopy. How does F1 balance safety vs aesthetics?
I must admit myself, first impressions is it looks quirky & I understand why it is there, but a few questions:
- Would this device have saved Henry Surtees, as from the video of the crash, the wheel fell on top of Henry's head, so is the opening at the top of the Halo narrower than both 2017 wheel specs?
- Again, would this device have assisted Massa in Hungary? That part hit him at an angle that may have sneaked in between the nose and the top Halo strut, if not deflected! The horizontal Halo strut is above the helmet, so logic a projectile as in the Massa incident, would still strike a driver.
- Vision, real concern about this, sorry but how is a strut right in front a drivers sight not going to affect their vision? Typically a driver will be looking yards ahead of themselves, what is the displacement of vision say 20 yards ahead, how much of the tarmac will they not be able to see, a flashing rear light in rain, as an example?
- Driver Evacuation with a back injury, how do they remove a driver safely from the car who may have a back injury, with this added obstacle?
- Rain, how will the rain deflected by the Halo at 180mph behave in the cockpit, we've seen vortices on rear wings, could the driver have their view further obstructed by Halo vortices?
- Major crash with a roll, how does the Halo interact with the established roll structure of the air vent above the drivers head? Also dig affect on grass, how will a Halo behave if as part of the crash it ploughs into Grass, will it become in effect a cheese grater? Then as above, extractiion, how from an upside down car.
- Last but not least, is aesthetics! F1 is going through a tough time at present, less fans, traditional tracks disappearing, dull races, years of 1 team domination & multiple rule changes (3 Qualifying rule changes this week alone). Can it afford for the cars to look like this from next season?
