Motorsport’s governing body says it will continue to look at ways of improving driver safety following the death of British driver Justin Wilson.
Wilson, 37, died on Monday after he was struck by debris in Sunday’s Pocono IndyCar 500 and crashed into a wall.
The FIA has tested a number of new designs, and is planning more – including the possible introduction of a protected, closed canopy cockpit.
“We must make something,” said the FIA’s F1 director Charlie Whiting.
“Even if it’s not 100% in terms of protecting the driver under all circumstances.
Stefan Wilson says his brother Justin helped save six lives after he donated his organs following his death
“If it improves the situation, it has to be good. There must be a way.”
The FIA has been looking into various methods to provide better protection for drivers’ heads since Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa was hit on the helmet by a bouncing spring during qualifying for the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Cockpits enclosed by a fighter jet-style canopy had been considered, but were dismissed because of concerns about the strength of the cover.
However, the death of Wilson, who competed in F1 for Minardi in 2003, has brought the issue of open cockpits into question once again.
Brazilian former Formula 1 driver Lucas Di Grassi believes it is only a matter of time before closed canopies are introduced.
He wrote on Twitter: “Canopies will be used in every single formula (open-wheel) series in the future. Not only for safety, but for aerodynamic improvement.”
‘Not the fix-all solution’
However, former Formula 1 world champion Mario Andretti believes the introduction of closed cockpits could bring with it other safety concerns.
“I think it probably brings on more problems than we have at the moment,” Andretti, a four-time IndyCar champion, told BBC Radio 5 live.
“The vision, potential to be trapped and many other aspects. It is not the fix-all situation.”
