The halo cockpit protection system became mandatory in Formula One in 2018.
The FIA selected the halo after years of research into frontal cockpit protection and testing of several concepts. It is a titanium structure that surrounds the driver’s head, with a central pillar ahead of the helmet. The design aims to deflect or support large objects while preserving escape access.
The decision followed serious open-wheel accidents involving head strikes from wheels, debris, or other cars. The FIA confirmed the halo for the 2018 Formula One season in July 2017, making it a technical-regulation requirement rather than an optional team choice.
A common mix-up is confusing its development and testing with its mandatory introduction. Drivers evaluated halo prototypes before 2018, but every Formula One car had to use the device from the 2018 championship onward. The halo also influenced safety rules in other FIA single-seater categories.