Drivers unhappy with halo-addition

The halo has caused a lot of ‘debate’ over the winter break, and with the cars being unveiled just over a week ago and it still hasn’t died down quite yet. The criticisms from an aesthetic point of view have been loud and clear from the outset, the cars have looked less impressive with the addition of the halo where they could have been some of the most striking cars in years.

It isn’t just fans though who have had their criticism of the addition to the 2018 cars. Kevin Magnussen has been critical of the safety device from its inception and the winter has done little to warm the Dane to the idea.

Speaking after day one of testing, his assessment of the halo hasn’t changed. "It's very annoying. Ugly. Difficult to get into the car, difficult to get out of the car, difficult to get the steering wheel on and off, just awkward and annoying"

Not only has the Haas driver recently voiced his displeasure, Sebastian Vettel is “unconvinced” about the ability to see fully out of the car.

Although the halo was tested last year, these two weeks of testing is the first time that the drivers have had to deal with the halo on the car for an extended period of time.

Pierre Gasly also brought up concerns he had with the halo. After his first run in the Toro Rosso last week his race suit was apparently ruined.

While the F1 paddock might not be fully adjusted to the halo, IndyCar’s recent testing of the shield has garnered a far more popular reaction than Formula One’s solution to the safety issue. Perhaps the shield might find its way back on to an F1 car for further testing soon?