Poll Is it time for cockpit canopies ?

[Il_leone]

F1 should look at how to get cockpits to protect driver's heads in the event of flying debris not closed cockpits.

I see a few problems with current suggestion

i) Five second escape rule - drivers must be able to get out of their car in 5 seconds when they pull over their car... with a canopy this would surely delay that

ii) What if the canopy gets jammed and would not release in the event of a race accident... - deploying virtual safety car helps in some cases but not all accidents

iii) If the car flips and ends upside down how does the driver escape ?

iv) the cockpit could get extremely hot and would test drivers fitness even further in races like Singapore and Malaysia and putting them at greater risk

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

I think the intentions moved on some time ago from closed cockpits actually when they were pretty much ruled out a year or two ago (possibly more)? I thought this thread had come back to life due to the 'halo' type idea being floated around by Mercedes and a potential revisit by the FIA of possible designs.

 

[Brogan]

The halo idea wouldn't have prevented Massa being hit in the face, nor would it prevent a direct impact from the top, nor by an item small enough to fit between the vanes.

It's a very poor concept.

 

[Dario Resta]

Canopies are a stupid idea and will potentially kill or maim more drivers than they save.

 

[Kewee]

There will be ways to further protect drivers if a lot of thought and design planning goes into it. It will take time and care to find a partial solution. The five second escape rule is often irrelevant, an unconscious driver is not going anywhere in five seconds.

 

[Hamberg]

Helmets are worn to protect heads.

- Rear suspension springs shouldn't fly off cars.
- Tractors shouldn't be on the circuit
- An elephant shouldn't have been wandering about in the woods in Germany

There are enough precautions. If we go through life trying to protect against every freak event, we wouldn't be living.

 

[Greenlantern101]

Jenson wants cockpit canopies and Alonso agrees.
F1 news: Jenson Button says it's time for closed cockpits in Formula 1

Jensons quote.

I was one of many drivers who said 'this is open-cockpit racing, it should stay as open-cockpit racing, but I think we've all had enough now and it's time to do something serious about it, not just changing the headrest. You've got to get a canopy on the car of some sort, because we can't have this happening as much as it has over the last few years. It just shouldn't happen at this time in motorsport. It's not the seventies, we should know better. Canopies probably are the way to go, but obviously that takes time. I can't see it happening for next year in Formula 1. I feel it needs to happen sooner rather than later.

 

[Mezzer]

Meh. I don't dislike Button, after all he's on Meph's list of "nice young men" (a dubious honour methinks), but the cockpit issue is not as simple as sticking a piece of glass in front of the driver. Airflows would need to be created to stop the glass from fogging, a wiper system would need to be added (don't anyone say fighter planes don't have wipers, they are a) travelling a lot faster than cars, and b) have instrumentation that makes being able to see outside of the cockpit a bonus not a necessity), etc etc. This would be a massive undertaking that I don't see getting done anytime soon.

 

[Westy]

Helmets don't have wipers. Wiping with your gloved hands just smears the water.

We are all very saddened when a driver loses their life in motor racing. Wouldn't it be better if we could stop these accidents and still have those drivers we've lost with us?

I know we discuss the "nanny state" over protecting us, and health and safety takes it too far sometimes. However we can't have it both ways. If we are going to be saddened by driver deaths then we should do what we can to prevent it in the first place. It's a little hypocritical when people leave out of the fair well posts on here their arguments for no more safety. Those posts should read as follows if you feel so strongly about no more safety:-

"RIP [insert driver name]. He was a really good bloke, a true racer, and a huge loss to the motor sport world. However, he knew the risks."

Kinda puts a different spin on it. This is their profession and so I am in favor of what their consensus is. If the tide is shifting towards increased head protection then I am all for it. Jenson knows what he is talking about.

What will be interesting is to see if any team introduces increased head protection before it is mandated. Remember that after the horrific weekend in '94 and Wendlinger's (sp?) crash in Monaco, Sauber voluntarily introduced the raised head rest around the driver's heads. The FIA would later mandate the safety feature on all future F1 cars.

 

[marksawatsky]

I am positive that if F1 cars suddenly had cockpits or full bodywork like a WEC car, I would still enjoy it every bit as much. But I would hope that the cars wouldn't be cookie-cutter, can't tell them apart kind of deals. Who knows, with all the extra bodywork, there is more advertising space and potentially more income for teams.

 

[Rutherford]

There are enough precautions. If we go through life trying to protect against every freak event, we wouldn't be living.

In fact that is why we are living because safety standards are improved over and over again in all aspects of life.

The properties of a canopy or a windshield would allow it to deflect oncoming items before it would crack.
However a new question which should be raised then, is if such device would pose a greater risk to the audience if an item uncontrollably catapulted into the air.

 

[Titch]

Well catapulting into the air will happen with or without a canopie, how would a canopie stop that?

The bottom line is that FIA have decided that the future of F1 is the introduction of canopies, so that's where the sport is headed.

 

[F1Brits_90]

those walls I built in march well they're tumbling down because It found a way to let it in & if we have to choose. Then i would go canopy or aero screen But im just not feeling the halo, Some Drivers can see their halo & think its their saving grace

 

[Rutherford]

Well catapulting into the air will happen with or without a canopie, how would a canopie stop that?

The bottom line is that FIA have decided that the future of F1 is the introduction of canopies, so that's where the sport is headed.

That is what I mean a canopy would not hinder object being catapulted into the air and may add an additional risk to spectators and track officials. This aspect has also has to be taken into account.

I stated before that it should be a drivers decision if they want such safety measures to be introduced, they are the ones putting their lives at risk.

 

[KekeTheKing]

such device would pose a greater risk to the audience

This is precisely what tests have shown.

The bottom line is that FIA have decided that the future of F1 is the introduction of canopies

They have not. Which is why they've turned to the ungainly Halo as a possibility.

 

[Rutherford]

This is precisely what tests have shown.

What is your opinion on canopies then should they therefore not be introduced?

 

[KekeTheKing]

What is your opinion on canopies

That they do not have a place in open-wheel racing