New calls for Formula 1 to delay cockpit protection to 2018

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has already declared he will vote against the halo when it is put before the Strategy Group, although the FIA could still force through its arrival for 2017 on the grounds of safety.

There appears to be a growing apathy towards the device, with Steiner also now of the impression a postponement until 2018 would be preferable.

"We all want safety in the sport, absolutely," said Steiner.

"But the drivers choose to do this sport, they know the danger of it, and the cars are pretty safe at the moment.

"They are never safe enough, and I'm the first to say that.

"It is the driver himself who takes the decision to be safe or not because he wants to go fast.

"You put a halo on a car and the driver will think 'I'm safe now. I can do whatever I want'.

"So I'm in between. We want to be safe, but you will never be 100 per cent safe, and nobody really likes it [the halo]. Also, the risk is part of the sport.

"A lot of people are trying to say it's not ready, which is a good point as well. [Sebastian] Vettel said he couldn't properly see, that he doesn't like the view.

"If we leave it a year, then I'm for it as well."

Red Bull trialled the halo on its car for an out-in lap at the start of the first day of this week's Silverstone test on Tuesday, with Pierre Gasly at the wheel.

Gasly also wore a spectacle frame, without the glass, but with a camera in the middle to provide footage of the view from the cockpit.

"I guess that would be to see the field of view and whether it is interrupted," added Steiner.

"That's using science to show it isn't ready. I don't know the outcome, but it's good they do that, so I'm sure they will present that to all the teams."

While Red Bull junior Gasly was not too concerned with the device overall, he feels it has no place in F1.

"It does not change much in terms of visibility, but it feels weird to see something above your helmet, and on the straight you see this sort of big triangle above you," said Gasly.

"I think you would get used to it, and you definitely can drive with it.

"But for me, Formula 1 has always been open cockpit. For sure, there are more risks, but drivers have known this for a long time.

"All drivers that climb into a racing car are aware of the risks and accept them. I don't think things should change on that front."