Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA are set for showdown talks over the introduction of the Halo head protection device.
Driver opinion remains mixed about the device set to be introduced next season and now F1 supremo has voiced concerns about it ahead of Thursday's strategy group vote on the matter.
"We don't need it because it won't do any good," he told the Telegraph. "It could cause more damage than it's going to save."
The FIA however has a differing view, and showed drivers a presentation of the benefits of the modification at the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend.
"The presentation was quite clear. The outcome was positive in all crashes," said Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel.
"It's a safety issue," agreed McLaren's Jenson Button. "If the FIA decide it's a safety issue, we should have it on the car."
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff however disagreed, despite being unsure of which way he will vote on the matter.
"I don't like it," Wolff told the Stuttgarter Nachrichten newspaper, "but I still have not decided (how to vote)."
Ecclestone, on the other hand is adamant that the halo should not be brought into F1
"Most of the drivers don't want to see it. It's a case of us and the teams will decide in the end," said the 85-year-old.
Hitting back at opinions like Button's, Ecclestone remarked: "They've got a small problem: they don't own the teams and they don't own the cars. If they (the drivers) don't want to drive, they don't have to."
No matter how Thursday's vote goes, the FIA can still force the introduction of the Halo through on safety grounds
Local time
Local time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
Replies (0)
Login to reply