FIA need to step up cockpit safety

The FIA really need to step up their efforts to enhance Formula One cockpit safety as soon as possible following the terrible news that Marussia F1 test driver Mara De Villota's racing career appears to be over as news broke today that the Spaniard has lost her right eye following her horrific crash during a straight line speed and aero test at Duxford airfield yesterday.

As the investigation into the cause of the crash continues the main question that I would to address is what are the FIA going to do to further improve the safety of F1 cockpits. Since 2009 there have a number of terrible accident's within open wheel racing.

The first one being at the Hungarian GrandPrix when a spring flew off the back of Rubens Barrichello's Brawn car hitting Ferrari's Felipe Massa in the head at speed resulting in a skull fracture for the Ferrari driver. Felipe has since made a full recovery.

The week before Felipe Massa's crash Henry Surtees, the son of former F1 champion John Surtees was killed when he was struck in the head by a tyre from another car during a F2 race in Brands Hatch.

Then last year we had the tragic events at the final IndyCar race in Las Vegas where Dan Wheldon was  killed following a high speed crash. So these kinds of accidents aren't just restricted to Formula One.

The FIA have introduced for this year stepped noses for F1 cars to help protect drivers in the event of side impacts, they have also raised the height of the cockpit walls however as Tuesday's event's have shown in my opinion this hasn't been taken far enough. Exactly two month's prior to this accident in the May 3rd issue of Autosport there was a feature done on cockpit safety.

One of the idea's being suggested is the idea of drivers being covered with a fighter jet-style canopy to protect them from potential debris. However I believe that this could potentially cause problem's if a driver is sent airborne during a crash and lands upside down.

For example, during the 2010 European GrandPrix in Valencia RedBull's Mark Webber was coming up to lap the lotus of Heikki Kovalainen when he went over the back of the car and was launched into the air luckily for Mark he landed upright and was able to walk away unhurt.

In Maria's case however she apparently unconscious in the car following the accident for between 15 and 20 minute's and it took paramedics a considerable amount of time to extricate her from the car.

I am hoping number one that Maria makes a good recovery from her injuries and secondly I really hope the FIA learn something and bring forward their plan to further improve cockpit safety.

The reason the cockpit is open on an F1 car and indeed any other open wheel race caar is to allow easy access to the driver in the event of a crash.