SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium -- Nico Rosberg said he did not even notice the Halo on his car after testing the safety device in FP1 on Friday.
Rosberg was one of four drivers to test the controversial structure, which was rejected for 2017 but remains on the FIA's wishlist for 2018. In fact, Rosberg set the fastest time of all with the Halo bolted onto his car, with Mercedes the only team to venture out on super-soft tyres in the morning.
The German has been a keen advocate of Halo for a long while and he was impressed with his first laps with it.
"It was good to try it and they've done a great job with it because it doesn't disturb me at all when I'm driving and increases the safety a lot," Rosberg said. "I know it's not nice looking from the outside, of course, it doesn't make the cars prettier but if it's such a big step in safety then I think it's a good thing."
Daniel Ricciardo, one of the four others to test the device, reported no problems through Belgium's notorious Eau Rouge and Rosberg delivered similar feedback.
"No problem at all, you don't even notice the top part. I think they can even come down with that because LMP1 is lower anyways. So for sure they could go lower, but whatever."