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F1 German Grand Prix: Button accepts ‘Halo’ delay on ‘safety grounds’

Jenson Button says he is content with the reasoning behind the decision to defer the introduction of a cockpit protection device until 2018 despite hoping it would be introduced sooner.

The controversial device had been on the cusp of being signed off for a 2017 introduction after receiving support from drivers, only for the Strategy Group to vote it down over concerns it has not conducted enough 'real world' mileage.

Though the likes of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton - who was originally against the Halo - have questioned the deferral, vocal supporter Button says he is happy to wait until 2018 on the grounds of safety, even if he felt there are ultimately few reasons to introduce it.

"We all sat down for about 45mins in Budapest discussing the Halo with the FIA and the positives - there didn't seem to be any negatives at that time," the McLaren driver said. "But I guess there hasn't been enough mileage with it, there hasn't been any driving in anger with the Halo system, so I think next year is very early to put it on the car.

"It's a good idea and we would like it sooner than rather than later, but it obviously needs to be tested correctly and gone through the correct process. I also feel that the decision is made on the right grounds in terms of safety rather than anything else."

The FIA has urged all teams and drivers to contribute to the Halo's development by running the prototype during FP1 sessions to the end of the year. As yet, only Ferrari and Red Bull have sampled the device during FP1 and on test days, though even then it has completed only a handful of slow shakedown laps. 

Zdroj: crash.net