Days ahead of the opening test that kick-starts F1 2016, Daniel Ricciardo has confirmed that drivers are seeking the support of the FIA in their campaign for better head protection.

The drivers' union, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, has already called on the sport's governing body to take action, with plans to introduce a system in time for next season.

Whilst Red Bull is understood to have come up with its own option, believed to be a canopy made of carbon and a 'glass-like' material, similar to a concept suggested by Mercedes, the drivers are said to be in favour of the 'halo' device put forward by the FIA.

"It's not taking away anything from the driver in terms of courage or anything like that," said Ricciardo. "It's a simple little benefit that we can all gain from. No-one wants to see another fatality."

In recent years there have been a number of fatalities in motorsport, the result of head injuries, including Jules Bianchi, Justin Wilson and Henry Surtees.

"Our head is the only really vulnerable thing at the moment," said the Australian. "I honestly don't think anyone is against it. Sure, some people probably didn't have an opinion, but most people spoke up about it and said 'it's what we want'.

"With Jules and then Justin, it just seems like a bit of tradition, for what in the end?" he added. "If this is just a little 'halo', within a race or two people will think it looks normal."

The FIA is meeting with representatives of at least five teams in London today to discuss the issue, and it is understood that Red Bull will use the occasion to present its concept. The 'halo' device remains the favoured option however, mainly because it has already been substantially tested and if approved could be seen on cars next season.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by 4-Wheel Drifter, 19/02/2016 22:08

"Hullo Simon. I'm not howling at you, but I think your notion that 'lawyers' will insert themselves into the process of regulation writing in some mis-guided effort to take the fun our of racing is a bit extreme. F1 is (or at least, was) one of the most lucrative sporting venues in the world. Leaving FOM completely out of the picture, it is already the case that nothing that comes out of the F.I.A. without having been 'vetted' by a whole squadron of lawyers. And that rule, pretty much applies all the way down to the chaps that load and unload the cars. Given the pot of money involved, it would be irresponsible for the organization NOT to take such precautions. The main problem is less safety regs than construction regs these days. The NAMES (I won't mention) are those with large investments which they seek to 'protect' from competition as much as possible. When they go too far in one direction, big names have to 'pull out' or threaten to pull out to protect their investment; when they go too far in the other (as now) you get generally boring processions on race day and the kind of absurd point spread that we saw last year where the top 3 teams earned 1388 points and everyone else only 531. And they wonder why they're losing fans! Jim in Colorado"

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2. Posted by Simon in Adelaide, 19/02/2016 3:40

"I will probably get howled at for this but where is this going to take us? It may start with F1 but then the lawyers will make sure it percolates its way down through the lower formulae; what happens to carting, is that banned outright?

Now I am not questioning the bravery of drivers but isn't there a correlation between perception of safety and the desire to take risks; many drivers have gotten to where they are today by taking risks both on and off the track that most people would never entertain. If the sport is made safer will drivers take more risks, is this a vicious circle?

Idle speculation or improbable extrapolation might lead us to cars remotely operated by drivers in a control tower or even dispense with the driver entirely and have the engineers design autonomous cars with a map of the track, sat nav and proximity sensors or perhaps we take the leap into virtual reality; is TRON the future of motor racing? I hope not."

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Ricciardo: Drivers want head protection

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