Todt: In F1 people didn’t keep their word on the Halo…

FIA President Jean Todt has hit back at the criticisms fired at the Halo cockpit protection device from within Formula 1 accusing some quarters of the sport of having “short memories”.

The Halo safety device has been made mandatory for all F1 cars from the 2018 season, with a similar policy set to be rolled out in the FIA’s other single-seater championships including Formula E, Formula 2 Formula 3/GP3 and Formula 4, but the cockpit protector has been met with a mixed reception from key figures on F1.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says he wants to “cut it off with a chainsaw” during his team’s 2018 launch at Silverstone, while a number of drivers have expressed their frustration at its poor aesthetic appearance. The Halo has also caused unforeseen issues with Toro Rosso Honda’s Pierre Gasly ripping his race suits caught on the Halo during pre-season testing while jumping in and out of his STR13.

Todt has blasted the F1 critics of the Halo by reminding the sport it was the drivers who called for an increase in cockpit safety after the tragic deaths of Justin Wilson and Henry Surtees who were both hit by debris while inside their cars.

“It is short memories… it was a completely legitimate request from the drivers,” Todt said. “16 December 2015, I got a letter that was signed by [GPDA directors] Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel and Alex Wurz, urging us to decide for head protection for the drivers.

“So immediately we asked the technical people as a priority to see what they could come out with. On July 27, 2016 they [the drivers] knew a meeting was going to happen, they said: ‘Don’t be weak. Please respect what we have asked you on safety’. So we committed to taking their request into consideration because I feel it’s a fair request. And here came the Halo.

“So I must say I am so surprised, and you know I love F1 but I hate this part of F1. You have people who don’t [keep] their word. For me we are talking about the biggest asset in life: it is loyalty and [keeping] a word and having respect of what you have been undertaking.

“So we have respected that and some have forgotten that, but that is where we are.”

Todt has encouraged all key members of F1 to become more supportive of the Halo ahead of its race debut at the 2018 season opener in Australia and is eager to maintain development pushes to improve the safety device to suit all parties.

“For me the Halo is no problem and I would have hoped we would have had more support from everybody - the fans, the media - for something which is for safety,” he said. “I mean, I’m amazed to hear some people say ‘OK motor racing has to be dangerous, if [the worst] happens, it happens’.

“If we can avoid that, why should we not protect a life of whoever? Because we’re not only talking about Formula 1. In Formula E I did not hear one complaint, incidentally. Everybody is happy and saying ‘Look what we’re going to do about it’. I didn’t hear any complaints in Formula 2, I didn’t hear any complaints in Formula 3. And we are going to implement it as soon as possible in Formula 4.

“If we are able to find something which is better. I’m sure over the years, we will be able to. I read somewhere that we don’t see who is driving. We complained for years that we didn’t see who is driving the car, we didn’t see the name. You need to be an expert. The halo for me will be a facilitator to know better who is driving the car.”