In the wake of the latest incident, the FIA is to carry out further tests on closed cockpits for F1.

First mooted in 2009, after Felipe Massa was struck on the head by a spring from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn, which caused the Ferrari driver to crash; this incident coming days after Henry Surtees, son of F1 legend John Surtees, was killed after being struck on the head by a wheel during an F2 race at Brands Hatch, the idea of closed cockpits has brought mixed reaction.

Furthermore, despite testing, some feel that such a move might cause more problems than it solves, and then there the question of whether a closed cockpit would compromise the 'purity' of the sport.

However, in the wake of Jules Bianchi's death, and that of IndyCar driver Justin Wilson, who was hit on the head by a nose cone during a race at Pocono Raceway at the weekend, closed cockpits, and indeed driver safety, is in the spotlight again.

"We have to persevere," said. Charlie Whiting, the FIA's technical delegate, according to Reuters. "We must make something, even if it's not 100 percent in terms of protecting the driver under all circumstances. If it improves the situation, it has to be good. There must be a way."

Among the proposals to be tried, proposals that were in place before Wilson's accident, is a 'hoop' which would run from one side of the cockpit to the other over the driver's head.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by petes, 28/08/2015 21:20

"Please Charlie, no knee-jerks, even if you do them rather well."

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2. Posted by You Started It!!, 26/08/2015 14:43

"Its all good and well having an enclosed cockpit but would the glass/perspex with stand a flying wheel nut at 180mph, then there's getting an injured driver out is going to take longer.

I don't have all the answer for this but I get the impression there's going to be as many pros as there are cons"

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FIA to review closed cockpits

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