F1 cockpit safety: Nico Rosberg wants 'haters' to 'get over it'

Nico Rosberg says he hopes the "haters" of plans to bring further cockpit protection into Formula 1 "will get over it", because it is the right thing to do.

The halo, tested by Ferrari in pre-season testing, and Red Bull's aeroscreen concept, which it ran in Friday practice at the Russian Grand Prix, are the two solutions under consideration.

A deadline of July 1 has been set to agree on which one will be pursued, but on Sunday F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone said he dislikes both concepts and does not believe F1 needs such a device.

When asked to address Ecclestone's comments, Rosberg said: "In the history of the sport, every time safety has come about, it's always been a compromise.

"Every episode you can talk about in the history of the last 60 years, there has been exactly the same moaning initially, exactly the same issues with the looks changing.

"Just think to the cockpits being raised and not being able to see the driver anymore, things like that.

"We just need to accept that and hopefully the haters will get over it.

"Of course I respect that and understand it but I hope they get over it, as we need that and it's the right direction."

Rosberg said protecting the driver outside of the cockpit was the most important area to focus on.

"We need it - it's the biggest danger zone which remains in our sport as we have seen.

"There have been some fatalities. It's an area where we need to keep pushing safety.

"That is the area that is most important at the moment and it's great to see things are progressing.

"I'm confident a solution will be found. All drivers are up for it.

"We're aware it's not ideal for the purists, and we're purists ourselves, so we're very well aware."