Halo critics have 'short memories' - Todt

FIA president Jean Todt says Formula 1 drivers complaining about the halo safety device have "short memories". Todt explained that motorsport's global governing body were moved to investigate cockpit protection after being prompted to by F1's union, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, in 2015.

After many months of speculation and conjecture, each car turned up to pre-season testing with the halo fitted.

Fans, drivers and team executives alike have criticised the aesthetics of the halo, which has been introduced to protect drivers from flying debris.

Todt reacted with frustration when addressing media about the controversy surrounding the device.

"It is short memories and it was a request from the drivers," said the FIA president.

"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. 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. 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 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."

Kevin Magnussen has been one of the halo's msot vocal critics, while Mercedes boss Toto Wolff saud he wanted to take a chainsaw to it.

"I will not react to what has been said. It is simply a childish game," Todt continued.

"I will only tell you for me, I love F1, and I think we all should love F1. I think it is very inappropriate whoever you are, just to publicly deny something which is introduced.

"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.

"Halo is a safety device. It is human attitude to be reluctant to change, but once we know the change, after a lot of experiences and a lot of testing is good, we should implement it.

"Can you imagine how we will all feel if something would happen and if we would have had the halo it would not have happened?"