Red Bull could test canopy at Russian GP

The halo system – a carbon structure designed to protect the head of drivers when in the cockpit – has been mooted as one possible solution.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

Red Bull could showcase their canopy system at the Russian Grand Prix, according to team principal Christian Horner.

Formula One has been making a concerted effort to improve driver safety, with a number of measures being trialled by teams.

The halo system – a carbon structure designed to protect the head of drivers when in the cockpit – has been mooted as one possible solution.

Red Bull's canopy – a visor mounted on the car in front of the driver's head – is another and Horner says the team may use it in Russia, should it stand up to testing.

"We're going to test the canopy solution over the next week – static testing, so we're going to fire a wheel at in on a plinth to see how that withstands it," he told Sky.

"Then if that goes okay, we may put it on one car very briefly in Sochi. We will see how the testing goes over the next week or so.

"I think the canopy offers a bit more protection because it does have a windscreen. It's a more elegant solution.

"We believe there's better visibility and it's a more elegant solution to the brief, rather than the boomerang thing that is the halo."