Former F1 driver Max Chilton said that he believes the sport "will have closed cockpits within the next five to 10 years," according to William Esler of SKY SPORTS. The subject of exposed drivers "has once again returned to the forefront of the safety agenda" after Justin Wilson "lost his life after being struck by debris during an IndyCar race on Sunday." Chilton believes the introduction of closed cockpits "is inevitable." He said, "That is the one weak area we have left in motorsport and that is the one bit we need to make a little bit more safe. There are dangers to having them, because if you are trapped you can't get out, but from what I have seen in the footage they are super strong." Chilton believes that "in light of Wilson's fatal accident the push for closed cockpits will now gain extra momentum." He added, "It was only last week that I was looking on YouTube of videos of the FIA testing jetfighter-style cockpit covers" (SKY SPORTS, 8/26). The BBC reported the FIA has tested "a number of new designs, and is planning more -- including the possible introduction of a protected, closed canopy cockpit." FIA F1 Dir Charlie Whiting said, "We must make something. Even if it's not 100 percent in terms of protecting the driver under all circumstances. If it improves the situation, it has to be good. There must be a way." Brazilian former F1 driver Lucas Di Grassi believes it is "only a matter of time before closed canopies are introduced." He tweeted, "Canopies will be used in every single formula (open-wheel) series in the future. Not only for safety, but for aerodynamic improvement." However, former F1 world champion Mario Andretti believes the introduction of closed cockpits "could bring with it other safety concerns." Andretti: "I think it probably brings on more problems than we have at the moment. The vision, potential to be trapped and many other aspects. It is not the fix-all situation" (BBC, 8/26).
DRIVERS SPEAK OUT: The BBC's Andrew Benson reported F1 drivers have "demanded the end of tyre blow-outs after two dramatic failures at the Belgian Grand Prix." Grand Prix Drivers' Association Chair Alexander Wurz said, "We need to stop the sudden explosions." Pirelli said that "it is conducting a forensic investigation to understand the failures." Former F1 driver Wurz, who leads the GPDA with fellow directors Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button, said, "As drivers, we strongly believe the end of a tire's performance window can and should not be a tire delamination in the form of an explosion" (BBC, 8/26).
