Lewis Hamilton Blasts ‘Halo’ Safety Device

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has slammed a controversial new F1 safety device known as the halo, as reported by the Daily Mail. The halo is a carbon-fiber hoop designed to cover the cockpit and protect the driver, while allowing maximum vision. Hamilton doesn’t like its unusual design. The Formula One governing body, FIA, is hoping to introduce the halo for the 2017 season, but Lewis Hamilton disagrees.

The halo was premiered by Ferrari at winter testing in Barcelona last week, with Kimi Raikkonen’s car carrying the device despite it being designed by the Mercedes team, where Lewis Hamilton drives. Although Raikkonen was upbeat, saying the halo “does not hamper (visibility),” Hamilton later spoke to paddock reporters of his disdain.

“I love this sport and F1 cars are so unique in how they look. I feel they have lost the cool look they used to have in the 1980s and 1990s and this part is just too drastic. It is not F1 for me. If they do implement it, I hope we have a choice of whether we have to use it and are not forced to, because ultimately it is our safety. I understand safety is a huge issue and something we always have to work towards but this is not the one.”

Although Formula One is safer today than it has ever been, the FIA have been trying to add more protection to the cockpit for years, as Lewis Hamilton acknowledges. In 2009, Felipe Massa was seriously injured during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix after being hit by a spring which came off another car. The subsequent accident fractured Massa’s skull.

The week before Massa’s Hungaroring accident Henry Surtees was killed at a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch. Henry was hit on the head by a wheel from another crash. Former Formula One driver Julian Wilson was killed at an IndyCar race at Pocono in August 2015, when he was struck by flying debris.

It is notoriously difficult to get F1 teams to cooperate with each other, and it seems that Lewis Hamilton and the other drivers are disagreeing too. According to the Telegraph, Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GDPA) chairman and former F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel agrees with Lewis Hamilton that the halo is “ugly,” but thinks it is still a good idea.

“I agree it doesn’t look very nice. It’s not the picture you are used to seeing for F1. But if it helps increase the safety and helps save lives, there would be at least two drivers who would still be around… It can be ugly but nothing justifies not having these two guys around anymore. We can improve the system in terms of aesthetics and how much is visibly in your way.”

Lewis Hamilton does have some drivers on his side. Jolyon Palmer and Nico Hulkenberg have “expressed opposition.” However, the Telegraph says “the ‘halo’ has the backing of the majority of the drivers (apart from Lewis of course), and is being pushed strongly by the GPDA and the FIA.” That isn’t good news for Lewis Hamilton.

According to the BBC, Lewis Hamilton said he was ” ‘dying’ to be able to drive a car from 30 years ago, which Hamilton said he finds much more appealing.” Formula One supremo Bernie Eccleston’s new ideas for qualifying format also haven’t gone down too well with Lewis.

“It was fine, it was OK. Why confuse people even more? Even we don’t understand what is going on.”

What do you think of the halo design? Do you agree with Lewis Hamilton that it’s a step too far or is it an essential safety device? Sound off in the comments below.

[Photo by Andre Penner/AP Images]