Halo prompts change to start procedure in Melbourne

The FIA has installed a new set of start lights for the Australian Grand Prix, admitting that the halo could make it difficult for some drivers to see the existing lights. Drivers will be afforded time in Friday practice to get used to the new set-up.

While concerns over the halo's appearance have been paramount to its detractors, more practical issues have also been raised.

Concerns over its impact on visibility on steep sections of track and the additional time it might take a driver to escape the cockpit have been raised.

Though somewhat granular, the ability to see the lights clearly could have huge ramifications up and down the grid, prompting race director Charlie Whiting to come up with a solution.

"We haven't normally allowed practice starts on the grid here because it's quite a tight timetable and things like that," said Whiting.

"With the halo what we've asked every circuit to do is to make the lights at a standard height above the track. We've also put a repeat set of lights, in this case off to the left, over the verge.

"Those repeat lights were normally halfway up the grid, and they were fitted round about 2009, when the rear wings became higher on the cars. Some drivers complained about not being able to see the main start lights, so that’s when we introduced an extra set.

"But now the wings have been lowered, there's no need for those halfway up the grid. So I've decided to utilise them somewhere else.

"Pole position seems to be the worst-case scenario with the halo there – maybe the driver can't quite see the lights, or see only half of them, and he might have to move his head too much.

"But then he's got a repeat set of lights which are five metres further down [the track].

"What I thought would be a good idea was to give the driver sight of those lights rather than have them look at them for the first time on Sunday evening."