Mercedes cockpit protection F1 ‘Halo’ concept
In August 2015, Justin Wilson’s fatal accident in IndyCar highlighted the ever-present need to improve cockpit protection in single-seater competition, and it’s an area that Formula One racing’s governing body, the FIA, continues to research.
Previous tests on fighter plane-style cockpit canopies were problematic in that: a) debris impacting the canopy can rebound high into the air, presenting a safety risk to other cars and spectators, and b) accessing an injured driver in the event of an accident could prove highly difficult.
Next month the FIA will test some alternative solutions designed to improve protection from flying debris whilst also providing easy cockpit access. Among them is this concept, the result of a Mercedes study.
As the Mercedes concept shows, the halo-shaped hoop could stop certain types of debris from reaching the driver, whilst the hinged locking mechanism means it can quickly be removed for easy access. The proximity of the single, central strut to the driver is such that it should have minimal effect on visibility.
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Halo concept by Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team
Halo head protection for Ferrari SF16-H at Formula One Testing, Day Three, Barcelona, Spain, Thursday 3 March 2016.
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari SF16-H with halo at Formula One Testing, Day Three, Barcelona, Spain, Thursday 3 March 2016.
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari SF16-H with halo at Formula One Testing, Day Three, Barcelona, Spain, Thursday 3 March 2016.
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari SF16-H with halo at Formula One Testing, Day Three, Barcelona, Spain, Thursday 3 March 2016.
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari SF16-H with halo at Formula One Testing, Day Three, Barcelona, Spain, Thursday 3 March 2016.
Halo with Ferrari SF16-H at Formula One World Championship, Rd10, British Grand Prix, Silverstone, England, July 2016. © @ScuderiaFerrari
Halo with Ferrari SF16-H at Formula One World Championship, Rd10, British Grand Prix, Silverstone, England, July 2016. © @ScuderiaFerrari
Ferrari SF16-H with halo device at Formula One World Championship, Rd9, Austrian Grand Prix, Practice, Spielberg, Austria, Friday 1 July 2016. © Sutton Images
Ferrari 's Halo device at Formula One World Championship, Rd9, Austrian Grand Prix, Practice, Spielberg, Austria, Friday 1 July 2016. © Karun Chandhok
Ferrari SF16-H with Halo device at Formula One World Championship, Rd9, Austrian Grand Prix, Preparations, Spielberg, Austria, Thursday 30 June 2016. © Sutton Images
Halo with Ferrari SF16-H at Formula One World Championship, Rd10, British Grand Prix, Silverstone, England, July 2016. © @ScuderiaFerrari
Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari SF16-H with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd10, British Grand Prix, Practice, Silverstone, England, Friday 8 July 2016. © Sutton Images
Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari SF16-H with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd10, British Grand Prix, Practice, Silverstone, England, Friday 8 July 2016. © Sutton Images
Pierre Gasly (FRA) Red Bull Racing RB12 with halo at Formula One Testing, Day One, Silverstone, England, Tuesday 12 July 2016. © Sutton Images
Pierre Gasly (FRA) Red Bull Racing RB12 with halo at Formula One Testing, Day One, Silverstone, England, Tuesday 12 July 2016. © Sutton Images
Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Force India VJM09 and halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd13, Belgian Grand Prix, Preparations, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Thursday 25 August 2016. © Sutton Images
Scuderia Toro Rosso STR11 and halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd13, Belgian Grand Prix, Practice, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Friday 26 August 2016. © Sutton Images
Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes-Benz F1 W07 Hybrid with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd13, Belgian Grand Prix, Practice, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Friday 26 August 2016. © Sutton Images
Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes-Benz F1 W07 Hybrid with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd13, Belgian Grand Prix, Practice, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Friday 26 August 2016. © Sutton Images
Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Force India VJM09 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd13, Belgian Grand Prix, Practice, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Friday 26 August 2016. © Sutton Images
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull Racing RB12 with Halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd13, Belgian Grand Prix, Practice, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Friday 26 August 2016. © Sutton Images
Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes-Benz F1 W07 Hybrid with Halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd13, Belgian Grand Prix, Practice, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Friday 26 August 2016. © Sutton Images
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull Racing RB12 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd13, Belgian Grand Prix, Practice, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Friday 26 August 2016. © Sutton Images
Mercedes-Benz F1 W07 Hybrid with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd13, Belgian Grand Prix, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, August 2016. © Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team
Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India VJM09 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd14, Italian Grand Prix, Practice, Monza, Italy, Friday 2 September 2016. © Sutton Images
Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India VJM09 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd14, Italian Grand Prix, Practice, Monza, Italy, Friday 2 September 2016. © Sutton Images
Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren MP4-31 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd14, Italian Grand Prix, Practice, Monza, Italy, Friday 2 September 2016. © Sutton Images
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes-Benz F1 W07 Hybrid with Halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd15, Singapore Grand Prix, Practice, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, Friday 16 September 2016. © Sutton Images
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes-Benz F1 W07 Hybrid with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd15, Singapore Grand Prix, Practice, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, Friday 16 September 2016. © Sutton Images
Fernando Alonso (ESP) McLaren MP4-31 at Formula One World Championship, Rd15, Singapore Grand Prix, Practice, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, Friday 16 September 2016. © Sutton Images
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes-Benz F1 W07 Hybrid and halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd15, Singapore Grand Prix, Practice, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, Friday 16 September 2016. © Sutton Images
Halo on the Mercedes-Benz F1 W07 Hybrid at Formula One World Championship, Rd15, Singapore Grand Prix, Preparations, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, Thursday 15 September 2016. © Sutton Images
Force India VJM09 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd15, Singapore Grand Prix, Preparations, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, Thursday 15 September 2016. © Sutton Images
Force India VJM09 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd16, Malaysian Grand Prix, Preparations, Sepang, Malaysia, Thursday 29 September 2016. © Sutton Images
Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India VJM09 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd17, Japanese Grand Prix, Practice, Suzuka, Japan, Friday 7 October 2016. © Sutton Images
Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR11 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd18, United States Grand Prix, Practice, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, USA, Friday 21 October 2016. © Sutton Images
Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR11 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd18, United States Grand Prix, Practice, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, USA, Friday 21 October 2016. © Sutton Images
Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams FW38 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd18, United States Grand Prix, Practice, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, USA, Friday 21 October 2016. © Sutton Images
Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR11 with the Halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd18, United States Grand Prix, Practice, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, USA, Friday 21 October 2016. © Sutton Images
Manor Racing MRT05 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd19, Mexican Grand Prix, Practice, Circuit Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico, Friday 28 October 2016. © Sutton Images
Felipe Massa (BRA) Williams FW38 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd19, Mexican Grand Prix, Practice, Circuit Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico, Friday 28 October 2016. © Sutton Images
Sauber C35 steering wheel at Formula One World Championship, Rd19, Mexican Grand Prix, Practice, Circuit Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico, Friday 28 October 2016. © Sutton Images
Haas VF-16 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd20, Brazilian Grand Prix, Preparations, Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday 10 November 2016. © Sutton Images
Romain Grosjean (FRA) Haas VF-16 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd20, Brazilian Grand Prix, Practice, Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Friday 11 November 2016. © Sutton Images
Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Force India VJM09 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd20, Brazilian Grand Prix, Practice, Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Friday 11 November 2016. © Sutton Images
Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Force India VJM09 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd20, Brazilian Grand Prix, Practice, Interlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Friday 11 November 2016. © Sutton Images
Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Scuderia Toro Rosso STR11 with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd21, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Practice, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Friday 25 November 2016. © Sutton Images
Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari SF16-H with halo at Formula One World Championship, Rd21, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Practice, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Friday 25 November 2016. © Sutton Images