F1's halo could pose safety risk, Force India's Perez believes

The Strategy Group has delayed the introduction of a cockpit protection device until the 2018 season because more development is required.

The halo remains the preferred option, but the Strategy Group believes a further year of development could result in an even more complete solution.

Drivers attended a presentation on its benefits in Hungary and Perez - in favour of improving head protection - said that while the current design could save lives, it might also pose a safety threat in some situations.

"With the halo, the FIA still has to make some progress with what they showed us in Hungary," said Perez, speaking ahead of the Strategy Group's decision.

"They have made good progress and they showed us how many lives we could have saved with the halo.

"[But] as well it could go wrong in other places, like if something hits you it can go straight into your body if it hits the wrong part of the halo.

"It's probably not totally ready at the moment, but it's making good progress."

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg also backed the introduction of the halo, suggesting it had strong support among the drivers.

"It's very clear, the large majority [of drivers] are definitely for the halo," said Rosberg on Thursday, prior to the halo decision..

"We had the presentation from the FIA and you can only be for it.

"I understand that there are purists but it's nevertheless the right thing to do."

But Rosberg did also accept that there was room to further improve the halo concept, suggesting that if introduced it should continue to evolve.

He suggested this could also include the addition of a screen, drawing on the underlying concept of the Red Bull aeroscreen that was also under evaluation by the FIA.

"It's always development, isn't it," said Rosberg of further steps that could be made with the halo.

"For now, the best solution is the halo but they know that long term there is further development that can be done to make it even better - for example adding a screen to it and things like that."

Four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel had earlier suggested F1 would be "stupid" not to introduce the halo, which he claimed had "90-95 per cent" support among the drivers.

"We don't like the looks of it but I don't think there's anything really that justifies death," said Vettel.

"We've always learned from what happened, incidents that happened on track, and we've already tried to improve.

"Now, that would be the first time in human history that we've learned a lesson and we don't change.

"It's up to us to make sure it does happen, otherwise we'd be quite stupid."