Mercedes AMG PETRONAS driver Nico Rosberg will trial the halo cockpit protection device during the Friday practice sessions ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, as will Sahara Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg.
The circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is considered a key location to evaluate the device due to its flowing design, and big elevation changes, with driver visibility at those points a particular area of concern for the FIA.
Despite teams voting against the FIA’s plans to introduce the safety device next season, they did agreed to continue with testing of the concept to allow better understanding of any limitations it may harbour and highlight any areas that require improvement.
Mercedes and Force India will become the third and fourth teams to test the halo system, with Scuderia Ferrari having run the initial prototype during pre-season testing at Barcelona, before testing a newer version during practice for the British Grand Prix.
Red Bull Racing also ran the halo safety device on the RB12 of Pierre Gasly at the in-season Silverstone test that followed the UK race. The Milton Keynes based squad had previously trialled their own Aeroscreen version of the safety system in Russia, but that was side-lined by the FIA due to needing further development, when it failed to pass some of the required safety tests.
Hulkenberg will also run the safety system on the VJM09 on Friday, as the FIA make a concerted effort to get all teams to run the device at least once prior to the end of the season.
