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[Juicy Bob]

Formula 1 cars will have to be fitted with 'Halo' in 2018

That big black thong-looking thing covering the driver's helmet is the 'Halo' front protection device, designed to protect drivers' exposed helmets from large debris such as detached wheels when on track.

The FIA, the sport's ruling body, have just announced that every car must run with a Halo as of the start of next season.

This is in response to a number of high-profile incidents where single-seater open-cockpit drivers have been killed or suffered serious injuries over the last decade:

• Formula 2 driver Henry Surtees was killed instantly when he was struck on the head by a wheel at speed in 2009
• F1 driver Felipe Massa suffered major head injuries after being hit on the head by a loose metal spring in 2009
• IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon was killed when his car flipped in a multiple car crash and his head slammed into a metal pole along catch fencing in Las Vegas in 2011
• F1 driver Jules Bianchi died from major head injuries months after spinning off a wet track and running head-first underneath a stationary vehicle in 2014
• IndyCar driver Justin Wilson was killed when he was struck in the head by a loose nosecone in 2015

This is a mock-up of what it looks like from a driver's perspective.

The Halo has been criticised by a number of drivers, including multiple champion Sebastian Vettel and grumpy Frenchman Romain Grosjean.

Just last weekend at the British Grand Prix, Ferrari tested a new driver protection concept called the 'Shield'.

 

[Jibbed]

As a lifelong F1 fan, I have mixed feelings over this.

It really just seems like a halfway house to a closed cockpit or at least a refined 'aero-screen' type solution that's only useful in a handful of circumstances. You have to wonder what the visibility will be like on tracks such as Spa and Circuit of the Americas with huge elevation changes.

Obvious criticism: it looks fucking ugly.

 

[Daffy Duck]

Good lord.

My first thought is one of dread of that that breaking, I know it will withstand a lot but your just know there's a bad scenario lurking there.

 

[shira]

Is it viable to drive the cars wirelessly/remotely?

I don't see why death and major injury have to be part of the equation at all anymore

 

[Piggus]

If it helps save lives, great. But at the same time it seems like something like that would be super distracting.

 

[Caboose]

This wouldn't have saved Bianchi.

 

[Danielsan]

Bleh. Not feeling it. I understand safety is the top priority, but I feel that F1 already is insanely safe as it is, and there always be the chance of freak accidents.

 

[Escape Goat]

That guys going 2,727mph!!!11

 

[Delusibeta]

Just last weekend at the British Grand Prix, Ferrari tested a new driver protection concept called the 'Shield'.

Important bit of context missing: the Shield test got called off early because it was impairing Vettel's vision. Hence, this announcement suddenly being made.

 

[Chris R]

Honestly don't know if even the halo would have saved Dan Wheldon OR Justin Wilson.

The full cockpit would have saved Justin, but man, they were going way too fucking fast in Vegas

 

[Piggus]

Is it viable to drive the cars wirelessly/remotely?

I don't see why death and major injury have to be part of the equation at all anymore

Death and injury is a risk in just about any sport. The drivers know this. At that point, everyone might as well just play F1 2017. Racing requires a huge amount of endurance and athleticism. It isn't just about who can run the best racing line.

 

[Nafai1123]

Why can't they just use a transparent windshield? This seems to obstruct your vision like crazy.

 

[Jibbed]

Why can't they just use a transparent windshield? This seems to obstruct your vision like crazy.

They tested a fighter jet style screen last weekend and the curvature of the screen distorted the driver's vision.

That's definitely the endgame but it's gonna take a few years of refinement.

 

[n0razi]

They tested a fighter jet style screen last weekend and the curvature of the screen distorted the driver's vision.

That's definitely the endgame but it's gonna take a few years of refinement.

Endgame will probably be fully enclosed with a high resolution, high fps camera + monitor setup

In which case endgame will just be VR lol

 

[Crayon]

Hideous.

 

[Escape Goat]

Hideous.

Which, when you get down to it, is what really matters in racing.

 

[Loxley]

Maybe those who are more knowledgeable about F1 can educate me, but what hasn't the sport just embraced closed-canopy designs like these:

The "halo" idea seems like a weird half-step.

*edit -

They tested a fighter jet style screen last weekend and the curvature of the screen distorted the driver's vision.

That's definitely the endgame but it's gonna take a few years of refinement.

Ahh, I see.

 

[Xando]

Wait what happened to the shield

 

[Chris R]

Wait what happened to the shield

Vettel tried it for a few laps and got a headache I guess?

 

[+Aliken+]

Horrible

 

[tomtom94]

If you want to blame someone, then blame the teams who refused to test alternative solutions solely because they happened to be proposed by one of their rivals.

Anyway, if it helps save lives then yeah, I'm all for it. It's a halfway house to closed cockpits for sure, but we've had too many incidents in the last few years.

 

[MontyBrown]

I'd prefer completely open cockpit with the understanding there's a risk of something hitting the head.

If it's closed cockpit or has a halo then F1 loses a lot of its identity.

 

[Xando]

Vettel tried it for a few laps and got a headache I guess?

Huh, wished they'd try to refine the shield instead of this ugly shit.

 

[Kinyou]

Looks like it would really restrict the view

 

[Antagon]

Maybe those who are more knowledgeable about F1 can educate me, but what hasn't the sport just embraced closed-canopy designs like these:



The "halo" idea seems like a weird half-step.

*edit -



Ahh, I see.

Closed cockpits are also not seen as a real option because they might get damaged and trap a driver in a burning car.

 

[Roberto Larcos]

Huh, wished they'd try to refine the shield instead of this ugly shit.

What's to say they won't keep refining it? But if they want a solution for next season, they'll need something for the interim period.

 

[InertiaXr]

Looks like it woukd really restrict the view

I think it was Ricciardo that said he actually didn't really notice it after a few laps

 

[RS4-]

Wonder why they couldn't find a different way to brace the halo instead of the pillar right in the middle.

 

[_DrMario_]

Well they made the cars sound like shit so might as well make em look like shit too.

 

[SomedayTheFire]

Wouldn't that severely impart vision? Making it less safe?

 

[Doikor]

Important bit of context missing: the Shield test got called off early because it was impairing Vettel's vision. Hence, this announcement suddenly being made.

Also the halo is the only device that has actually passed all the crash tests to make sure it works like they want to. (None of the shield/wind screen devices have not). They already decided earlier this year that in 2018 they would have some protection so they are literally out of options.

About the vision it doesn't really block all that much. You anyway have the little metal stick (to make it so the drivers helmet is off ground when the car is upside down by making the highest point of the nose structure higher) and antenna in the middle already. And seeing directly in front of you isn't that important. It's in to the turns/exit/apex that is important. When you are close enough to a car to need to see it in front of you it is already much wider in the drivers view.

 

[Bitch Pudding]

This is really bad. Im mean, who asked for this?! Halo ist just disgusting.

 

[Twentieth]

Looks like a flip flop strap.

Looks terrible. I'm surprised they couldn't find a better solution.

 

[shira]

Death and injury is a risk in just about any sport. The drivers know this. At that point, everyone might as well just play F1 2017. Racing requires a huge amount of endurance and athleticism. It isn't just about who can run the best racing line.

That would be quite interesting to see - have they ever ran the top video game F1 player versus a real car?

 

[Jezbollah]

I don't think this is going to happen tbh.

 

[Humidex]

Good God, that's just ugly.

 

[Chris R]

That would be quite interesting to see - have they ever ran the top video game F1 player versus a real car?

Odds are the top F1 game player wouldn't even be able to get the car around for a single lap, let alone being able to withstand the physical forces applied to a driver.

Richard Hammond is a pretty good driver, but even he had issues driving an F1 car because he wasn't going FAST enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGUZJVY-sHo

 

[Doikor]

Wonder why they couldn't find a different way to brace the halo instead of the pillar right in the middle.

Because a pillar in the middle blocks the drivers view less then two pillars on the side which can get in the way of seeing into the corner.

Edit: btw there is all sorts of crap in the middle of a drivers view in other series too. Like in endurance racing many cars just have the wipers hang in the middle when not in use. Costs too much in weight to make them go down and stay down reliably.

Also the fact that humans have two eyes. Hold your finger a foot away from your face and you see objects behind it once they are far away enough.

 

[TylerD]

Looks like complete shit. Good if it saves lives but holy shit is it ugly.

 

[krae_man]

That would be quite interesting to see - have they ever ran the top video game F1 player versus a real car?

I thought I remember hearing something on a podcast where a group of people who were top players on some video game I think Real Racing, were giving an opportunity to try racing real F1 cars and they knew when to break, what speeds to take each turn and all that stuff but their bodies weren't used to the physical stress and tapped out quickly.

 

[jabuseika]

I wish they would just move on to something like this...

 

[enzo_gt]

It's really ugly but I get the arguments for it, and IIRC most of the drivers seem to support it so it's hard to argue with what the athletes want for minimal inconvenience to viewers.

 

[Any Questions]

I wish they would just move on to something like this...

It will happen. Time will tell

 

[Adamastor]

I don't see it lasting too long. In the same way they did the weird knock off qualifying from last year that didn't last. I think the outcry will be too much. That's what I'm hoping for any ways.

 

[spuckthew]

Looks terrible. The windshield Vettel tested last weekend looks infinitely better and I'd be ok with something like that, but it's a shame he had difficulty seeing and supposedly suffered dizziness from it.

I can honestly see the 'Halo' being scrapped half-way through the season due to its looks and the drivers' dislike of it, if not certainly by the time 2019 kicks off.

 

[Doikor]

It's really ugly but I get the arguments for it, and IIRC most of the drivers seem to support it so it's hard to argue with what the athletes want for minimal inconvenience to viewers.

As a long time F1 fan I really don't care at all what the cars look or sound like. I just want good racing at the highest level possible (both in terms of best drivers and the technically best cars within the rule set)

A lot of racing fans complain about the current engine noises but I've never heard any of my very casual friends who watch a race or two a year to say anything about it. I doubt they will say anything about the halo either.

 

[Peter Ian Staker]

If you want safe close the fucking cockpit already.

Endurance racing figured it already. No need to turn the car into a giant flip flop.

 

[Mobius 1]

As a lifelong F1 fan, I have mixed feelings over this.

It really just seems like a halfway house to a closed cockpit or at least a refined 'aero-screen' type solution that's only useful in a handful of circumstances. You have to wonder what the visibility will be like on tracks such as Spa and Circuit of the Americas with huge elevation changes.

Obvious criticism: it looks fucking ugly.

Very much this. It does not protect from small debris, but it could prevent major injuries or worse for severe impacts.

I've seen some comparing the reactions to the time when Hams devices were introduced - while they're meant to increase safety, the impact on the driver wasn't as pronounced.

On the other hand, I wish we had this in 1994.

 

[Breakage]

Wait what happened to the shield

This. Wtf. This halo solution is hideous.

 

[PuppetSlave]

So people are decrying this as "super ugly" and yet are totally ok with all the ugly commercial stickers on the thing.

Personally I think the cars are ugly as hell in general and those complaining are just used to how they look. You will get used to this in time and if it will actually save lives, holy shit shut the fuck up already and accept this. How creepy and evil are you if are willing to accept someone death for your opinion of looks.

If this thing doesn't actually do much to protect then that complaint is totally fair and valid of course.