Drivers vote against ‘Halo’ for 2018 (Update)

No hideous halo for 2018?

UPDATE This rumor of the Halo delay is upgraded to 'strong' today. Red Bull abandoned work on the aero-screen following its failure in the FIA's test which involves a wheel being fired at the screen at 250km/h.

The halo passed this test in deflecting the wheel away from the cockpit without impacting on a driver's head, whereas the aero-screen was badly damaged and the test proved the driver would have sustained a substantial impact.

Attempts to strengthen the transparent material used for the screen caused vision problems and Red Bull stopped work on the device on the basis it was taking too many resources away from its work on the design of its 2017 car.

However, insiders say this does not necessarily mean that the FIA will not find a solution that enables one of the new devices to work as effectively as the halo in the primary function of preventing the driver from injury.

Time, though, is a serious problem, in finding a solution that satisfies the political concerns before the end of April.

"There is always a chance of another delay happening," one senior figure said. "You can see how it got put off from 2017 to 2018 and it probably won't be too long before somebody says: 'We're still not ready in 2018. We need to make sure it's right, so let's delay it again."

Another went further. "For sure it will be delayed another year," he said.

02/02/17 (GMM) 'Halo' could be put on the back burner for yet another year.

Earlier, the FIA looked to debut the controversial head protection system in 2017, but agreed to delay it for a year following a lack of consensus.

Now, the German publication Auto Motor und Sport reports that Halo might not even arrive in 2018.

That is because F1's governing body surveyed the drivers to gauge their opinions, and as of 1 February, a "narrow majority" had rejected the system.

Auto Motor und Sport said the FIA received 16 answers from drivers, with 7 voting against it, 5 for it, and 4 abstaining.

"The FIA is continuing to research alternatives," correspondent Michael Schmidt said.

At the Spobis sport business congress in Dusseldorf, reigning world champion Nico Rosberg said F1 must continue its pursuit of safety.

"It's impressive how much we've improved over the past years," said the German. "But unfortunately, two years ago we lost a colleague which was a severe setback for our sport.

"That's why we must still try to make it better."

And FIA president Jean Todt added: "I would say that formula one is currently the safety category in motor sport. But there can always be small improvements."