Halo: Nico Hulkenberg admits he was wrong about 'pretty useful' F1 safety device - F1 News

F1 News - Halo: Nico Hulkenberg admits he was wrong about 'pretty useful' F1 safety device

https://ift.tt/2wunBQm

Both Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc were unhurt in this crash at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix

Nico Hulkenberg admits he has had to rethink his opposition to the halo head protection device after the crash at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Renault driver, who triggered the dramatic accident by ramming Fernando Alonso's McLaren, was a vocal opponent of the halo's introduction.

Hulkenberg said: "It has proved pretty useful and a good device.

"I'm not a big fan of the halo as a device. I have to face facts - it does bring something in terms of safety."

Hulkenberg's collision with Alonso launched the Spaniard's car over the Sauber of Charles Leclerc.

Television replays and photographs show Alonso's car bouncing off the halo on Leclerc's vehicle. They also show the halo deflecting a tyre that may have been heading towards the Monegasque's head.

Hulkenberg admitted he still had "mixed feelings" about the halo, but added: "You can only speculate about what would happen [without it] but it looked pretty clear that the tyre marks were all over the halo and from that point it has done a good job of keeping the head safe, so, yeah."

Leclerc said after the race last Sunday that he had not initially been a fan of the halo but that he was glad it was on the car in the crash.

The 20-year-old is the godson of former Marussia driver Jules Bianchi, who died in July 2015 of head injuries sustained in a crash in which he hit a tractor vehicle recovering another car.

Leclerc said: "For Jules, it would not have changed anything. In some circumstances it can help - whether it helped in Spa or not I don't know - but it is a good thing to have."

How to follow on BBC Sport

BBC Sport has live coverage of all the season's races on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, plus live online commentary on the BBC Sport website and mobile app - including audience interaction, expert analysis, debate, voting, features, interviews and video content.

All times BST and are subject to change at short notice.

Italian Grand Prix coverage details
Date	Session	Time	Radio coverage	Online text commentary
Thursday, 30 August	Preview	21:30-22:00	BBC Radio 5 live
Friday, 31 August	First practice	09:55-11:35	BBC Sport online	From 09;30
	Second practice	13:55-15:35	BBC Sport online	From 13:30
Friday, 31 August	Alonso special	21:30-22:00	BBC Sport online
Saturday, 1 September	Final practice	10:55-12:05	BBC Sport online	From 10:30 (continuous)
	Qualifying	13:55-15:05	BBC Sport online
Sunday, 2 September	Race	14:10-16:00	BBC Radio 5 live	From 12:30
Monday, 3 September	Review	04:30-05:00	BBC Radio 5 live

#F1

via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6

August 30, 2018 at 09:39AM