Jolyon Palmer fears the introduction of driver head protection will go against the traditional values of Formula One.

The FIA, the sport’s governing body, recently announced that improved cockpit protection is due to be introduced in 2017 with the ‘Halo’, their preferred option.

The Halo, first pioneered by Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team, is designed to shield drivers from flying debris.

British driver 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.

“I think we need to be careful not to go away from what Formula One has always been, which is an open cockpit,” said Palmer, who will make his grand prix debut for Renault at the season opener in Australia on March 20.

“It is important to being able to identify the driver, and I think that is a nice touch from the sporting side.

“Rather than just seeing a car go round you can at least see the driver in it, so we have to be careful on that.

“I am not unhappy with how it is at the moment.”

FIA designs

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 Barri-chello’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 succumbed to the devastating injuries he sustained at the Japanese Grand Prix in July, although it is not believed improved head protection would have saved the young French driver.