New F1 HALO Graphics in the Future?

After experimenting with new F1 HALO graphics for television at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the FIA is considering a revamped version.

The aesthetics of the driver protection device have peeved some fans, while it stared everyone in the face in some onboard camera positions.

During Baku’s opening practice session, fans were greeted by a new TV graphic over the top of the halo. It displayed live speed, gear and engine rev information, throttle and brake usage.

The sport has access to team data from common elements such as G-forces, GPS and live sector times to much more sensitive information and measurements.

“We have a number of data sets and we’re going to try and add as much as we can that is available,” said Dean Locke, F1’s director of broadcast and media.

“Teams aren’t going to give you anything that gives another team a competitive edge, but we can work with them.

“We still have things that we’ve already rolled out, like G-force and other elements, that we can build into that graphic.

“There will be new elements that we bring forward.

“We have such a short winter period to get all this finished, so what we are excited about is we can put more in.

“We can get that data, and various elements, to the viewing public and excite them a little bit.”

Following the trial run in Baku, small modifications will be made, such as thickening the edge of the RPM counter to make it clearer to see.

F1 supposedly drew inspiration from film and gaming for the design. The introduction was delayed because some teams evolved the aerodynamic fairings on their halo.

“That’s part of where we’re going now,” he said. “We’re listening to these great marketing and research departments now that can reach out, which we didn’t utilise before.”

F1 had already been toying with the idea of using the halo’s space to accommodate a graphic. But that was before the problem of onboard camera intrusion arose in Australia.