Here's Your First Proper Look At Red Bull's Canopy Concept

Red Bull has decided to run its cockpit 'aeroscreen' during Practice One at the Russian Grand Prix. Unsurprisingly, not all drivers are keen on the idea...

We’ve seen Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel test out the new halo ‘thong’ on track, and now it’s time for Red Bull’s concept to make its debut. Unlike the halo, Red Bull’s ‘aeroscreen’ wraps around the cockpit, with two pillars on either side. Not only is this design regarded by many to be better looking that the halo, but it also provides additional protection.

Because the screen resembles a fighter jet canopy, the driver is protected from head-on strikes; think Felipe Massa’s accident at the 2009 Hungarian GP. And unlike the halo, the aeroscreen features an open top, giving the driver an escape route in the event of a rollover. Something that has been a major worry after Fernando Alonso’s shunt at this year’s opening round in Australia.

Photo credit: Red Bull Racing
Photo credit: Red Bull Racing

Red Bull boss Christian Horner clearly favours his team’s solution: “I think the canopy offers a bit more protection because it does have a windscreen. We believe there’s better visibility and it’s a more elegant solution to the brief, rather than the boomerang thing that is the halo.”

Unsurprisingly, not everyone agrees, with fans favourite Lewis Hamilton telling Autosport:

“If they’re going to do this, close the cockpit like a fighter jet. Don’t half-arse it. Go one way or the other. That screen looks so bad. It looks like a bloody riot shield. You’ve got this cool, elegant futuristic Formula 1 car, and you’ve got a riot shield sitting on top of it. And the other one [halo], the carbon fibre structure was obviously good but Fernando [Alonso] wouldn’t have been able to get out of the car potentially in his crash in Melbourne.”

F1’s governing body has said that it ‘intends to introduce cockpit protection for 2017’ in a bid to improve driver safety following the deaths of Jules Bianchi and Indycar Driver Justin Wilson last year. And as it stands, it looks like the halo is the ‘preferred’ option of the FIA.

Photo credit: Ferrari
Photo credit: Ferrari

So the question is, which do you prefer? Do you think the ‘halo’ is better, or do you want to see Red Bull’s concept hit the grid? Take our poll below!

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Comments

Anonymous

Why not make it like this?

04/29/2016 - 06:38 |
4 | 0
eXoZGaming

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Dats sexy

04/29/2016 - 22:04 |
0 | 0
gheed

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

F1.. Remember, Open wheel, open cockpit.. That’s not an f1 car.

04/30/2016 - 13:36 |
0 | 0
Skyy

IF they really have to introduce one of these two, please aeroscreen and not this god ugly thing called halo!

04/29/2016 - 06:45 |
0 | 0
Brendan Barnes

The shield looks really good on the red bull

04/29/2016 - 06:47 |
1 | 0
Anonymous

I haven´t been in any of those two Formula 1 cars, but the Ferrari thong seems to have a blindspot.

04/29/2016 - 06:51 |
1 | 0
Stephen S

Side on view in their latest tweet.

04/29/2016 - 06:52 |
1 | 0
Kevin B

Ferrari will sell F1 design flip flops. I think both system wouldnt have changed the issue of Jules crash. However the red bull system would have helped in the Massa flying spring incident.

04/29/2016 - 06:54 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Well for Bahrain that riot shield seems approriate…

04/29/2016 - 06:56 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

That thong thingy is bloody useless

04/29/2016 - 07:44 |
0 | 2
Anonymous

I would destroy it with a hammer

04/29/2016 - 08:24 |
0 | 2
Anonymous

How about no

04/29/2016 - 08:48 |
0 | 2