Fittipaldi backs end of ’Aeroscreen’ momentum

Former F1 driver Christian Fittipaldi has backed reports that Red Bull’s ’Aeroscreen’ concept has been put on the back burner.

We reported last Friday that the Red Bull-championed cockpit protection windshield had stalled, after the FIA asked for further development of the concept.

"We have too many other projects at the moment," team boss Christian Horner said.

That will be music to the ears of former Minardi and Footwork driver Fittipaldi, who told Brazil’s UOL Grande Premio that he hates the Aeroscreen concept.

"I am completely in favour of halo," said the 45-year-old, "and completely against the second one, the Aeroscreen.

"It’s the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen in my life — the most horrible thing," Fittipaldi, nephew to the great Emerson Fittipaldi, said.

"It has nothing to do with the lines of an F1. But if halo enters F1 next year, after three races everyone will forget about it," he added.

Red Bull may have championed Aeroscreen, but that does not mean safety should be the number 1 priority of F1, according to the brand’s Dr Helmut Marko.

Responding to complaints about the dangerous Baku circuit, the Austrian said: "I see it as something very positive for F1.

"It’s something we should have more of in motor sport," he told Brazil’s Globo. "It is essential to have some risk. The chassis are now carbon fibre and very strong.

"If there was a higher risk, people would care more again and F1 would be more spectacular," Marko added.