Hamilton takes swipe at `broken` F1, cockpit safety system

Johannesburg : Reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton has slammed Formula One, describing it as `broken and lacking direction’ and also criticised the newly-designed cockpit safety system known as Halo.

Earlier on Thursday, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen became the first driver to test the Halo closed cockpit system during the testing in Spain. The Halo was designed to protect drivers from flying debris and from life-threatening accidents.

Reflecting his disappointment over the new safety device, the 31-year-old appreciated the development but added that it was the worst modification that could be done in the motor-racing sport,Sport24 reported.

“Please no! This is the worst looking mod (modification) in Formula 1 history. I appreciate the quest for safety but this is formula 1, and the way it is now is perfectly fine,” Hamilton wrote on his Instagram page.

Earlier, former F1 driver Jules Bianchi’s father Philippe had also slammed the Halo device, saying that it would not be a proper solution for the drivers’ safety and, therefore, called on the F1’s governing body to do more when it comes to the driver’s safety.

Philippe, who had lost his son after he suffered brain injuries in a crash at the Japanese Grand Prix in 2014, had also advocated the development of the Head and Neck Support device (HANS) system and said that it would have a greater impact in kind of accidents that killed Jules.

Meanwhile, Hamilton’s Mercedes team mate, Nico Rosberg welcomed the development of the Halo device, describing it as ‘massive safety improvement’ system. (ANI)