28/07/2016
NEWS STORY
Amidst reports that introduction of Halo will be stalled until 2018, Sebastian Vettel insists sport should not ignore warnings.
Whilst the Strategy Group was meeting in Geneva, to decide, among other things, whether the Halo device should be introduced next season, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel gave an impassioned speech in its defence. Even though a self-admitted purist, the German believes it would be madness to ignore history's warnings.
Asked about claims that the majority of the drivers are against its introduction, Vettel said: "I'm a bit surprised because it doesn't sound as if we were clear about what we want in the future, so I'm a bit surprised about these comments and I think 90-95 per cent voted for it so I don't know why all of a sudden it comes up the way it does. I think it's the wrong impression.
"We don't like the looks of it but I don't think there's anything really that justifies death," he continued. "So, I think we've always learned from what happened, incidences that happened on track, and we've always tried to improve.
"Now, that would be the first time I would think in human history that we've learned a lesson and we don't change," he added. "I think it's up to us to make sure it does happen, otherwise I think we'd be quite stupid."
"I think what people from the outside need to understand is that, when we say it's going to make it safer, it will, but it doesn't mean the risks we take are any less," added Daniel Ricciardo, who fears sceptics are concerned the introduction of the device will further emasculate the sport. "So it will not change our approach to a corner; for me, as much as I understand it, it's to help the freak accident, or to support the freak accident, or if something comes flying in the air to stop it hitting us on the head, as some incidents happen, and you know, with last year as well with Indy.
"It's purely just to, I'd say, get rid of that risk, which I think it will do a good job," he added. "For us getting behind the wheel and going flat-out in Eau Rouge or something, it does not change if we've got the halo on or not. So, I think that's what people from the outside who are against it, need to understand, that we're not all just turning into... y'know... we're still race car drivers, it's just trying to eliminate that freak accident side of it."
"I think there is some mixed opinions amongst the drivers," admitted Nico Hulkenberg. "Some favour it, some don't. Obviously the aesthetics are not so good - it doesn't look very attractive - and yes, in some cases it would probably have been better and saved lives.
"But as it is I think F1 is already pretty safe and we also need to keep an element there, of danger, to keep it exciting, to keep it spectacular - but it's not in our hands, our decision, what's going to happen with it. Today there is a meeting, we'll wait and here about that."
Asked how he feels that it is the teams will decide on the Halo, whilst it is the drivers whose lives are on the line, Vettel said: "I think ultimately the FIA can do what they want, because based on safety grounds, they can do what they want so I think the message is clear, I think the feedback from the drivers so far - apart from the odd one or two here and there - has been clear. I think it's fairly clear."
Check out our Thursday gallery from Hockenheim, here.