Halo weight hurts car more than aerodynamic impact - Lowe

Williams chief technical officer Paddy Lowe has given an insight into how Formula One teams are getting on in incorporating the halo device on their cars, and believes the weight of the device hurts the vehicle more than any aerodynamic changes that might hurt it.

The halo is a safety device in the form of a piece of frame which surrounds the head of the driver in order to protect them from any potential flying debris following crashes. It has polarised opinion, with some figures in the sport welcoming a safer environment for drivers, with others lamenting the decreased visibility of the driver and also the change to the car aesthetic.

It will be introduced for the start of the 2018 campaign, so at the moment every team is working hard to make sure it has as little a negative affect as possible on the chassis. Lowe thinks that the main problem is the weight of the halos which will make the cars a lot heavier.

"The weight is probably the biggest thing which people aren’t talking about so much," Lowe said.

"It is very heavy not just as a component but also the structure you put in to take the loads. Performance-wise it’ll be the weight which will be more significant than the aerodynamic impact which is negligible.

"The weight limit was put up but not by the amount that it has impacted so I think that’s why it’ll be a challenge to all the teams."