It's Official: 'Closed Cockpits' In Formula 1 Are Happening
On Tuesday it was reported that a new elimination-style qualifying format had been approved for 2016 following meetings of the Strategy Group and F1 Commission. Now we have confirmation of that, as well as several other potential big changes for next year.
Cockpit safety has been a hot topic in single-seater racing for some time, but pressure to bring in more driver protection unsurprisingly increased following the tragic deaths of Jules Bianchi ā nine months after his horrific Japanese Grand Prix crash in October 2014 ā and IndyCarās Justin Wilson in 2015.
Motorsportās governing body, the FIA, and F1 teams have invested heavily in researching and analysing different options for cockpit safety, in a bid to provide drivers with improved safety while preventing side-effects like compromised vision and difficulty in driver extraction.
Various different designs have appeared in recent months, from halo-style concepts to jet canopies. The Grand Prix Driversā Association has also completed research and stated at the beginning of the year that it was time something to shield the cockpit was introduced.
The FIAās statement on the results of the F1 Commission meeting in Geneva says it āintendsā to introduce some form of cockpit protection in 2017, with the halo being the āpreferred choiceā, but other options will continue to be looked into.
The unusual elimination-style qualifying format has now been confirmed and could āpotentiallyā debut as early as this season. Meanwhile a āDriver of the Dayā award will be handed out at each race, voted by the fans. The deadline for the 2017 regulations has been deferred to the 30 April.
Meanwhile bodywork changes have been proposed, with wider front wings, lower and wider rear wings, wider floors and tyres, in a bid to increase top speeds and cut lap times. But all of these rules still have to be ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council before becoming a reality.
Comments
To thoses who will boycott F1 because of the new designs of a closed cockpit. Just think of how many lives have already been lost due to head injuries that a closed cockpit can avoid. Also it means even less drag and less drag means a high speed. Its aviation technology and theories being applied to motor sports and i am all for that
Everyone moans because they want to complain about F1. With this solution, drivers like Henry Surtees, Justin Wilson and the great Ayrton Senna would be with us
Im with you. I think closed cockpit racing will make Aero packages on the cars a lot more interesting.
Do not compare 60s, 70s and so on formula, with modern day formula, Jules would be fine if that tractor wouldnt be there.
Yeah, F1 drivers are dying left and right. Every time they get in their car, they face certain death. Please..itās not the 60s or the 70s where EVERYTHING was against you. Just because one driver died in F1 during the past 15 years, doesnāt mean the F1 cars arenāt safe. Thatās what I hate about these new drivers, playboys with no passion for real racing, but a whole lot of passion for money. Iām off to watch the golden era of the sport 80s and 90s, maybe some Super Formula as well. Leaving the scooter engine powered RC cars for you.
Why not Autopilot ?
I have to ask, what happens in the case of flipping the car on gravel and the car catching fire, as much as I like to see drivers staying safe this really doesnāt seem to safe to me
A system like in the SLS AMG will be implemented, so I dont see many problems
2.Hate to say it, but the odds of your situation actually occurring are far less (significantly than that of a facial impact from debris, considering this isnāt the 80s or touring car racing and the fuel cell plus fuel lines are completely isolated from the cockpit area.
Everyone saying canopies no, I will stop watching F1ā¦ Of course F1 is dangerous, but we cant watch deaths like the ones of Justin Wilson and say ābad luckā. F1will be dangerous, with or without canopies, it is just a bit safer. Plus, cars will have less drag, which means more top speed and easier to follow the guy in front, so racing will be better
The cars get more and more safe and the drivers get less and less safe.
Spot the difference
I actually own that exact thong
The difference is that one doesnāt slap you in the face if you make a mistake.
Now I can never unsee thisā¦
Hello from the other side
that McLaren is f___ing sexy, I might actually watch F1 again if it gets the sound to match
doesnāt the closed cockpit restrict movement because with an open cockpit, the drivers cars catch on fire but they can get out super quick (if they are stationary) so maybe closed cockpit might get them injured or killed by flames. Also the mercedes halo looks like it restricts vision at the front which isnāt very good.
Thereās a very easy solution to your first problem
Iām all for cockpit protection but the halo is not the way to go. It blocks forward visibility with the bar and on courses with elevation change could block side visibility as well. Not to mention is looks ugly, like really it might as well be the top off a flip flop. If this is the route we are going go full cockpit or a quarter/half screen that is reinforced to take the force of a F1 crash.
Thank you!
Iād definetly watch F1 again when the cars would look like that!!!
The halo looks absolutely stupid. Iām a die hard F1 fan, but between the new qualifying, uninspiring engines, potential for ugly halos, and the fact that Rossi got screwed out of a seat this year (thatās just a personal whine), Iām having a hard time staying a fan. I wish they would have less rules, and just let manufacturers go ham on figuring out engines, aero packages, etc. Itās becoming too much of a spec series.
F1 is doomed