Bernie Ecclestone against Formula 1 cockpit protection plans

A deadline of July 1 has been set to agree which cockpit protection solution will be introduced for the 2017 season.

Ferrari ran the halo in pre-season testing while Red Bull fitted the aeroscreen for Friday practice in Russian and plans to further test the device in Spain and Monaco.

When asked for his thoughts on the aeroscreen, Ecclestone joked: "We're going to get a lot of pitstops now when they have to stop to clean the screen, so that will be good."

He summarised his opinion of both designs with: "I don't like any of it".

When pushed on what F1 should do regarding cockpit protection, the F1 boss replied: "Nothing".

Videos of objects being fired at the aeroscreen as part of testing were released following Red Bull's run on Friday.

Ecclestone doubts any cockpit protection device can be adequately tested for the real-world scenarios it will face.

"You have a stationary object and you are firing a tyre at it when in the race, when the wheel has come off, normally both cars will be moving," he said.

"So how can you simulate it by having a car stationary?

"And how would you ever know what is going to happen with a wheel anyway?

"If it hits the thing it will probably bounce off anyway."

On Friday, Lewis Hamilton praised safety advances as "amazing" but said he believes an element of danger is key to F1's appeal.

"When I get in that car, I know that there is a danger," said the world champion.

In response, Ecclestone said: "We can make it more dangerous if he wants".