What happens to the deflected tyre when it hits the impact structure behind the driver above the air intake? Surely it gets knocked back down into the cockpit?
I imagine that design would cut out a fair chunk of a drivers field of view, which may make it so it makes a collision more likely. At least they are looking into all options though.
I have nothing worthwhile to add to this discussion so I'll say I think both ideas are daft, ask if Bergy ever used that windscreen stuff and what the result was, and post this because no one else seems to have done so: please log in to view this image
yes I used 'that windscreen stuff' can't remember which brand. Applied with a small roller, which tended to ooze out a bit uncontrolled - leading to a big spreading, removal issue. Driving in heavy rain makes it collect in large drops and airflow takes it over the top. Mrs hated it (I had also applied it to her car - oops). It seemed to be responsible for a smearing effect, and we doubted the contact with wipers was good ( a chemical reaction?). You'd have to be brave not to use wipers - and if involved in an accident are wide open to blame. In summary - never again for a road car.
With yesterdays clash the canopy (or more accurately 'bars') conversations have returned. Closed cockpits now appear 'inevitable' for Formula 1 in future The F1 teams seem to be pushing more towards the roll hoop-esk designs than an actual canopy with them appearing as early as 2014.
I think if we're going to move to closed-canopy racing that's a pretty significant technical step forward and F1 should take a short break in order to allow the teams to accommodate the designs. Perhaps the 2013 or 2014 championships could be run with the same cars as the year previous.
When you see stills like the one that Autosport is using, it becomes a lot harder to argue against them.
