When the FIA conducts its tests of new 'closed cockpit' concepts next month, it is hoped that they will offer the best of both worlds, protection from debris but easy cockpit exits for drivers. Delivering on both those fronts is essential if, by covering cockpits, motor racing is not going to cure one problem but open up plenty others. Ever since the crashes involving Henry Surtees at Brands Hatch in 2009, and Felipe Massa at the Hungaroring a week later, motor racing's governing body has been working hard on better cockpit protection. But tests on fitting fighter jet canopies to single seaters highlighted key problems: either the debris would get shot high into the air and risk injuring...
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