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Todt Perplexed By Drivers' Halo-Criticisms

10:30, 14 Mar 2018

byNicolás Quarles van Ufford

FIA president Jean Todt doesn't understand the drivers' criticisms of the halo, as they were the ones that wanted more head protection and pushed for its introduction in the Formula One in the first place.

Numerous drivers have criticized the way the halo looks on the car, with Kevin Magnussen saying the halo would block his vision on tracks with height differences like Spa Francorchamps.

Todt has made clear at a media briefing in London that he's totally surprised by this reaction, as the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers Association) were the ones pushing for the halo to happen in the first place.

“I must say I am so surprised, and you know I love F1 but I hate this part of F1. You have people who don’t have [keep] their word. For me we are talking about the biggest asset in life: it is loyalty and having [keeping] a word and having respect of what you have been undertaking."

“We have respected that and some have forgotten that, but that is where we are.”

“On December 16, 2015, I got a letter that was signed by [GPDA directors] Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel and Alex Wurz, urging us to decide for head protection for the drivers. And I said, ‘We are there. We will listen.’"

“Immediately we asked the technical people as a priority to see what could come out. And on July 27, 2016 they [the drivers] knew a meeting was going to happen – and they said: ‘Don’t be weak. Please respect what we have asked you on safety’. So we committed to taking that into consideration.”

Mercedes-boss Toto Wolff even went as far as saying he'd like to cut the halo off with a chainsaw, something Todt refused to react to, as it is simply "a childish game."

"For me, constructive criticism is always good because it makes you move forward. But public criticism which is not good for the sport – I don’t see the value.”

“For me, the halo is no problem. I am amazed to hear some people say that motor racing has to be dangerous and if it [a fatal accident] happens it happens. But if we can avoid that, why should we not protect the life of whoever?"