Closed cockpit idea ’ridiculous’ says Mika Salo

Former F1 driver Mika Salo has slammed suggestions F1 should put a roof over the drivers’ heads.

The calls for better cockpit protection follow the terrifying first-corner crash at Spa last Sunday, when the now-banned Romain Grosjean’s flying Lotus came close to making contact with Fernando Alonso’s hands and helmet.

It has emerged that the working group in charge of looking into F1’s options is likely to approve some sort of forward roll-hoop or canopy for the 2014 rules.

"I think the idea of a closed cockpit is ridiculous for formula one," Salo, now a commentator for the Finnish broadcaster MTV3, said.

"Actually, it would no longer be formula one, it would be (sports car) prototypes.

"In my view it’s not a good idea to panic after an accident, especially when nothing happened (in terms of serious injuries)," the former Ferrari and Sauber driver added.