Raikkonen tests halo system for first time

The Finn's halo protection systemwas fitted with the carbon structure, which is designed to protect the driver's head from being struck by any debris.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen tries the halo safety system.

Kimi Raikkonen tested out a prototype of the halo protection system during his installation lap on the third day of final testing in Barcelona on Thursday. The Finn's halo protection systemwas fitted with the carbon structure, which is designed to protect the driver's head from being struck by any debris, as happened to Felipe Massa.

Massa was hit by a suspension spring at the Hungarian Grand Prix back in 2009 and after his condition was initially described as life threatening, made a speedy recovery and returned to the grid for the 2010 season.

The majority of drivers are said to be in favour of the halo, although its design has raised concern in some quarters that it could hinder the driver's vision. However, the FIA hope to have halos in place across the grid for the 2017 season.

"We have tried to accelerate this project in the last 12 months with an aim to have something that we can practically apply on F1 cars for 2017," safety director Laurent Mekies said in the FIA's official Auto publication.

"This latest test was set up with that in mind - trying to come out from there with something that we could actually say, 'that's going to be a significant step forward'."