Increased head protection for drivers and higher performance tyres are two things the drivers are pushing for to come into effect for the 2017 season.
The Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) and their Chairman, Former Williams driver Alexander Wurz, have agreed unanimously on a swift execution for greater head protection for the drivers. As well as this the GPDA have said they would happily work with tyre supplier Pirelli on a faster, more high performance tyres for the 2017 season.
The decision behind improving cockpit safety for the driver is hardly a new one. The FIA have been floating around the idea of increased head protection for the driver for years now. Particularly from frontal impacts. However, the swift movement towards a solution has been brought into the focus of many following several high profile deaths across open cockpit racing. Most notably for Formula 1, the death of former Marussia driver Jules Bianchi. He died in July 2015 from a head injury he sustained racing ten months previously at the Japanese Grand Prix in 2014.
Several ideas have been tested over the last year following the accident for Bianchi. And now chairman Wurz feels that the GPDA are now in the position where one specific design can be adopted by the grid. The drivers are reportedly favouring what is known as the ‘Halo’ concept. It involves two curved arms stretching forward from the back of the cockpit and arching round to meet at the front, where a vertical strut supports the structure. This design option gives added protection against flying debris as well.
Mercedes concept for the ‘halo’ device aimed at protecting drivers heads
As well as head protection for the drivers the drivers are also seeking to improve the race tyre for the 2017 season.
Since they came into the sport in 2011 Pirelli have adopted the rather unorthodox style of creating a tyre with high degradation. Resulting in multiple pit stops for drivers. However, this has also lead to notable tyre failures. Especially in high speed tracks like Silverstone and Spa Francorchamps. According the Wurz the drivers are looking to move away from the era of tyre management, towards a more competitive tyre.
The drivers want to be able to race flat out during a race and extract everything from the car. They don’t want to have to manage their tyres to the extent they have to now. As a result the drivers want to work alongside Pirelli to create a fast but safe tyre for racing on.
The halo concept, and the tyre request, is likely to be one of the key debating points on Friday at the F1 technical leaders debate. The debates is centred around the FIA creating a raft of rule changes for 2017, all centred around an attempt to make the cars faster and more dramatic.
Image Credit:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/32837873
http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/29498158
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/formula-1-bosses-test-mercedes-6356411
