McLaren's Brown: F1 in 'tricky' spot over 2018 shield/halo decision
Sebastian Vettel's inconclusive first test of the shield device leaves Formula 1 in a "tricky" situation about what to do about cockpit head protection next year, says McLaren's Zak Brown


Ferrari driver Vettel complained about visibility and buffeting from the wind on his first run with the shield screen during first practice for the British Grand Prix last week, and ended his run after a single installation lap.
F1 plans to introduce a form of cockpit head protection for the 2018 season, but both devices that are being considered have divided opinion.
The alternative to the shield, the halo, also met with a deal of negative reaction when it was first tested and has little support among teams.
Debate over the two options will continue in a meeting of F1's Strategy Group on Wednesday.
"I think it is a tricky one," said Brown. "Does everyone want more safety? Yes. Do people want something that doesn't look right? No.
"But what you have got to do is make sure it works.
"I'm not surprised that this [shield] screen that is quite curved doesn't look right - I don't know what he saw, but he said he got dizzy.
"You don't want any distortion. You want it to look like there is no window in front of you, so I don't know want they do.
"We have to land on something that works. Dizzy is not a good place to be after one lap."

The FIA has been clear that if the shield does not get approved for use in 2018 then the halo will be introduced instead - with a decision expected to be made in the next few weeks.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who does not favour the halo, thinks that it unlikely the shield can be ready in time.
"Based on the comments I have read from Sebastian, it didn't sound to be too popular," he said.
"So it feels immature in its concept at the moment to introduce for next year.
"I'm sure it will be discussed at the Strategy Group."
When asked when teams needed to know what was happening so their 2018 cars could be designed to accommodate the chose device, Horner said: "About two months ago.
"These things take a bit of time to get on top of for a big team like Red Bull Racing, so I can only imagine the difficulty that it will take for a lesser equipped team."

Mercedes and Ferrari won't supply McLaren if it splits with Honda
F1 driver market beyond 2018 influencing Mercedes' Bottas decision

Latest news
Verstappen buoyed by new handling characteristics of 2023 F1 tyres
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is hopeful the new Pirelli tyres will help further dial out the inherent understeer of the current generation of cars.
Pastrana adds NASCAR Truck Series race to Daytona programme
Travis Pastrana has added the season-opening NASCAR Truck Series race to his appearance at Daytona International Speedway this month.
Turkington continues with WSR BMW for 2023 BTCC season
Four-time British Touring Car champion Colin Turkington will bid for a fifth title in 2023 with the West Surrey Racing BMW squad, the team confirmed on Wednesday morning.
Domenicali: F1 doesn’t want to “gag” drivers
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says the series will “never put a gag on anyone” in the light of the controversial FIA clampdown on drivers speaking out.
Why Albon won't be "throwing around laptops" to gain a 2023 F1 edge
OPINION: At the Williams 2023 Formula 1 season launch, Alex Albon’s easy-going nature was again a point of focus. But does being “too nice” really matter in modern F1? Albon’s own expressions put that in an intriguing new light
How the last Sauber-built Alfa offers F1 2023 evolution clues
Alfa Romeo has become the first Formula 1 team to reveal a new car for 2023, in addition to a fresh livery. This offered a first look at some of the understated changes produced by the revised regulations, along with points of convergence in the second year of the ground effect rules
The pioneering F1 car that preceded Lotus’s terminal decline
In the hands of Ayrton Senna the actively suspended 99T would be the last F1 race-winning Lotus but, as STUART CODLING reveals, it was a complicated machine that caused more problems than it solved
How Tyrrell became a racing Rubik’s cube as it faded out of F1
Formula 1’s transformation into a global sport meant the gradual extinction for a small team determined to stay true to its low-budget roots. But Tyrrell would eventually be reborn as a world-beating outfit again, explains MAURICE HAMILTON, albeit in different colours…
Assessing Hamilton's remarkable decade as a Mercedes F1 driver
Many doubted Lewis Hamilton’s move from McLaren to Mercedes for the 2013 Formula 1 season. But the journey he’s been on since has taken the Briton to new heights - and to a further six world championship titles
Why new look Haas is a litmus test for Formula 1’s new era
OPINION: With teams outside the top three having struggled in Formula 1 in recent seasons, the rules changes introduced in 2022 should have more of an impact this season. How well Haas does, as the poster child for the kind of team that F1 wanted to be able to challenge at the front, is crucial
The Mercedes F1 pressure changes under 10 years of Toto Wolff
OPINION: Although the central building blocks for Mercedes’ recent, long-lasting Formula 1 success were installed before he joined the team, Toto Wolff has been instrumental in ensuring it maximised its finally-realised potential after years of underachievement. The 10-year anniversary of Wolff joining Mercedes marks the perfect time to assess his work
The all-French F1 partnership that Ocon and Gasly hope to emulate
Alpine’s signing of Pierre Gasly alongside Esteban Ocon revives memories of a famous all-French line-up, albeit in the red of Ferrari, for BEN EDWARDS. Can the former AlphaTauri man's arrival help the French team on its path back to winning ways in a tribute act to the Prancing Horse's title-winning 1983?
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.