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FIA justifies its choice of Halo device

NEWS STORY
22/07/2017

The FIA has issued a statement justifying why it opted to force through the Halo device for 2018 on safety grounds, despite the agreement of only Ferrari.

The statement reads as follows:

"This week FIA confirmed the introduction of the Halo system for use in 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship. Let us recall the context of this process started several years ago.

Safety in motorsport is a paramount concern for the FIA and while great strides have been made in many areas of motor sport, head protection in single-seater competition has been an area of concern for many years.

Motor sport by its nature involves risk but it is the mission of the FIA, as the sport's governing body, to continually strive to minimise that risk through the constant pursuit of greater safety on the track through sound research and technological development.

Over the past decade motor sport has witnessed serious incidents that affected drivers. The severity of the incidents made it clear to the FIA that developing a solution to mitigate against frontal impact in the area of the cockpit is a research priority for the FIA to address this existing weak point. They were also a number of near misses accidents that highlighted the need for action.

Following several incidents, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association also expressed to FIA President Jean Todt in July 2016 a request that some form of frontal cockpit protection be "implemented as swiftly as possible".

A month later, following meetings of the F1 Strategy Group and the F1 Commission, the Commission confirmed a commitment to introduce "some form of cockpit protection from the 2017 season", assuring that "all stakeholders are working together to make this a reality, with the "Halo' concept currently the preferred option."

While static tests of the device continued, other solutions were simultaneously explored, particularly the "Aeroscreen', a windshield mounted on twin pillars attached to the coaming on either side of the cockpit. The system was tested in free practice at the 2016 Russian Grand Prix but while it was successful in some areas, further testing raised concerns as to the effectiveness of the device.

By contrast, tests of the Halo continued to prove successful. Centring on three significant major risk types, car-to-car contact, car-to-environment contact and external objects, tests revealed that in the case of car-to-car incidents the Halo was able to withstand 15x the static load of the full mass of the car and was able to significantly reduce the potential for injuries.

In car-to-environment tests it was established that the Halo was able to prevent helmet contact with a wall or a barrier in many cases, using a selection of previous incidents as a reference.

Finally, in the case of external objects the Halo was found to successfully deflect large objects away from the cockpit environment and also demonstrated an increased net level of protection against small debris.

Furthermore, feedback from extensive track testing revealed that visibility was substantially unaffected, and there was no significant visual obstruction due to the central strut. Track testing also revealed no issues regarding egress from the cockpit and multiple extrication tests were conducted with the Halo in place, with a revised procedure formulated to ensure safe extrication.

Despite the success, in July of 2016 the F1 Strategy Group agreed to defer introduction of a cockpit protection system in order to provide more time to conduct track testing with the Halo device and to explore emerging alternative solutions.

However, while implementation was deferred, the Strategy Group reaffirmed its commitment to the introduction of a protection system by stating it was "agreed unanimously that the 2018 season will see the introduction of frontal cockpit protection for Formula One cars in order to significantly enhance the safety of drivers." The Halo remained the preferred option.

Intensive track tests took place across the second half of the 2016 Formula One season with a wide number of teams and drivers assessing the impact of the device on visibility. Simultaneously the FIA maintained its commitment to the introduction of a device for the 2018 season.

Following these track tests and analysis of emerging alternative systems the F1 Strategy Group and F1 Commission decided, in April of this year, to "give priority to the transparent "Shield' family of systems. The FIA aims to carry out track tests of this system during this season in preparation for implementation in 2018."

After static testing, the Shield system was given a short track test at the 2017 British Grand Prix, with the device fitted to the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel. Feedback from this test concerned a number of limitations around such a system.

In light of this and cognisant of the successful deflection tests conducted with the Halo system, the multiple successful track tests conducted with a wide variety of drivers and teams in the latter half of the 2016 season, and the need to implement regulations for the desired deadline of the start of the 2018 season, the Halo system represents the best solution to the issue of frontal cockpit protection currently in existence.

The latest design of the Halo will now be further refined ahead of its introduction in 2018 in a joint effort between teams, drivers and FIA."

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READERS COMMENTS

 

1. Posted by Hobgoblin, 24/07/2017 13:38

"Is it just me that thinks that if the Shield had been properly developed it would not have presented a distorted view to the driver?
And even if they did get it that wrong, it shouldn't be the greatest technical challenge to get it right?

Were they really trying, or was it an excuse to justify the Halo?"

Rating: Positive (1)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by Jol, 24/07/2017 1:14

"They can justify it all they want its ugly and takes away from the aerodynamics of the F1 cars. F1 has always been an open cockpit sport now they want to stick this ugly crap on the cars, the drivers know the risks they take when they get into the cars. I've watched F! for twenty odd years now I think I'll watch Motogp instead."

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3. Posted by nonickname, 23/07/2017 17:34

"So why don't the manufacturers simply refuse to put them on. 2018 could be a great year for Ferrari.."

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4. Posted by FormerF1Fan, 23/07/2017 10:23

"Ladies and gentlemen, this week's diversionary tactics are.... well, the holy device... Well, at least it stopped us thinking about all last year's modifications (think wide tyres, etc. etc.) which just made the racing worse!! As the French said during the war: "Nous souhaitons bienvenue à des Allemands!""

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5. Posted by Stitch431, 23/07/2017 10:08

"Plain and simple: a lame excuse!"

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6. Posted by Jdbski, 22/07/2017 23:56

"If they put these ugly devices on f1 cars, I will no longer watch the races. "

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7. Posted by Hardliner, 22/07/2017 18:10

"The only things a Frenchman can lead are a restaurant or a retreat [and I dont mean the 'weekend in the hills' type of retreat]. Please, for goodness sake, can't the FIA have a proper leader and proper direction? They and Liberty are killing the sport; neither have a clue what the fans want"

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8. Posted by Ro, 22/07/2017 13:37

"The FIA should also justify why it overode the view of 9 F1 teams. Only one was for it. FIA stands for Ferrari Is All......disgusting attitude, someday someone will question their practices....."

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9. Posted by -ape-, 22/07/2017 13:14

"Who cares , F1 cars are ugly anyway with these absurd wings . "

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10. Posted by Ro, 22/07/2017 12:47

"The FIA should stop meddling. Its killing the sport of F1. Health and safety gone mad, what next ? airbags? better still, driverless cars. They (the FIA) are making a mockery of F1"

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11. Posted by Max Noble, 22/07/2017 12:38

"...in further research the FIA confirmed that cars kept static in their pit garages for an entire weekend would present significantly less risk to drivers, team members and the public.

The potential for then having the drivers discuss how fast they might have gone if they'd taken to the track being scored in a manner similar to Figure Skating (but safer) could then be used via social media to connect young fans to the raw excitement of the sport.

Honda welcomed such a move.
"

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