I’ve been thinking about this and feel that they could prevent these types of accidents – and improve peripheral vision as well – by adding thick “rollbars” as a canopy and lowering the side walls as well hence improving sideways visibility…which, I feel, would improve the chances of overtaking.

The driver has to be able to get out of the car in less than 5 seconds which is something that would go out the window.
However I would be more worried about a car on the off chance it caught fire or ended up upside down.

A roof over the cockpit might end up being more detrimental to the driver’s safety…

James, how difficult would be to introduce a special valve into these tyres that could automatically open itself? Either by high impact, a tether snapping or both. The valve opening would quickly dump alot of the air in the tyre and would reduce it’s bounce and speed.

Maybe if you think this is a good suggestion you could mention it to one of the tyre techs or someone from the FIA this weekend.

However I can’t help but get the feeling that the tethers used for the rear wheels on these cars are inadequate. When Henry’s car hit the barriers, after the loose tyre had struck Henry, the rear wheel came off as well even though it did not seem like a heavy impact.

This will surely need to reviewed after this tragedy.

RIP Henry

I just pray that his death doesnt go for nothing, and like the great Ayrton something is done about safety.

The only good thing that can come of this is the adoption of additional measures that may help other drivers in the future. As noted, no race car, no vehicle of any kind really, can be made wholly safe. But I do think that the “higher” levels of motorsport can learn from more “primitive” ones where open-wheel safety is concerned. USAC had a tradition of no rollover protection and many drivers perished as a result. They got over that, now having used a full roll cage for decades, with a much, much lower injury rate, and certainly lower fatality rate. Take a look at any video to see the look and effectiveness.

Again, just tragic, tragic news. My heart goes out to the family.

So really you’re advocating the actual death of single seaters as we know them. I feel that’s too high a price to pay for an accident of lottery defying odds.