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http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/124...t-halo-in-2017

Device's introduction delayed until 2018 at the earliest; Radio ban eased

Formula 1's strategy group have voted against the introduction of the Halo head protection device for the 2017 season.

But the Halo, designed to give drivers extra cockpit protection, could be introduced for the 2018 campaign after more testing.

It also remains to be seen if the FIA, the sport's governing body, will still try to push for the device to be brought in next year on safety grounds.

The Strategy Group have, though, agreed to lift the unpopular restrictions on radio messages.

The 18 votes of the Strategy Group are split between three parties - the teams, the FIA and the Formula One Management group.

Six teams - Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, Williams and Force India - hold one vote each, while Bernie Ecclestone casts six on behalf of FOM as does Jean Todt, the FIA president, for the governing body.

Ecclestone is a known opponent to the Halo while Red Bull boss Christian Horner recently described it as "an inelegant solution to the problem it is trying to deal with."

Critics have opposed the introduction of the Halo on grounds of aesthetics and philosophy - F1 has operated as an open-cockpit formula throughout its existence.

Lewis Hamilton was previously a vocal critic of the concept, describing the Halo earlier this year as the "worst-looking mod in F1 history."

But after what the world champion described as "a great briefing" for the drivers at the Hungarian GP, Hamilton said: "They said there is a 17% improvement on life saving. We can't ignore that. It's a safety thing that we all have to accept."

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel has led calls for the Halo's introduction and said on Thursday: "I don't like the way it looks but nothing justifies death."

Vettel tested the device in practice at Silverstone this month, after which he admitted it had "quite a lot of impact in terms of visibility."

But after trying out the Halo in Mercedes' simulator, Sky F1's Anthony Davidson said: "The central support was a mild distraction in the virtual world at least. I think in reality you will get used to it, just like you get used to a central windscreen wiper being there on a sports car. It is amazing how you adapt and get used to things."