Frenchman Romain Grosjean fears the sensation of driving a Formula One car will be lost if Red Bull's proposed cockpit protection system becomes mandatory in the sport.
The canopy, which is being considered as an alternative to the so-called halo concept, will be given its first public airing by Red Bull in opening practice for the Russian Grand Prix on Friday.
With the FIA, Formula One's governing body, determined to introduced improved cockpit protection for next year, it appears likely that the halo, a concept first devised by Mercedes and trialled by Ferrari in pre-season testing, or Red Bull's canopy will be given the green light.
"To be fair I am not a fan of both solutions which will be very unpopular to the drivers," Grosjean, 30, told Press Association Sport. "I am much more in favour of the halo then the canopy. The canopy is a very closed car.
"There is no more air going through your helmet, and no more sensation of driving an open-wheel car, or open-cockpit car. You just put a small piece of bag over your head and it is a closed car."
Earlier this year, world champion Lewis Hamilton said he would be opposed to using the halo - a modification which he also described as the "worst looking" in Formula One history - should it be introduced. German Nico Hulkenberg has also been vocal in his opposition of the concept.
But Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion, Sebastian Vettel, a four-time champion, and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo are among the leading voices on the grid in favour of change.
"Nico Hulkenberg said it was not good and Ricciardo was against Nico," Grosjean added. "Everyone has got a different point of view.
"It is a tricky call because it goes against the philosophy of Formula One since 1950. But on the safety grounds I spoke with the FIA and it does save lives on a few occasions, so we cannot say no."
Ricciardo and his Red Bull team-mate Daniil Kvyat have already trialled the canopy on the team's simulator. Unlike the halo, it has no central pillar, but two pillars on the side, with a windscreen acting as a shield. The team are yet to decide which driver will run it on Friday.
The FIA has explored a number of designs aimed at protecting drivers from flying debris after Felipe Massa was struck by a spring from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn during qualifying for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Henry Surtees, the son of 1964 world champion John Surtees, was killed in the same summer after he was hit on the crash helmet by an errant tyre while competing in a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch.
Jules Bianchi also died last July as a result of the devastating injuries he sustained at the Japanese Grand Prix, although it is not believed improved head protection would have saved the Frenchman, while Briton Justin Wilson was killed in August after he was fatally struck on the crash helmet by a nose cone from another car during an IndyCar race in America.
Source: PA
