Gasly ripped F1 race suit on “big mess” Halo 

Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly says he tore his race overalls on the Halo while climbing out of his Formula 1 car on the second day of pre-season testing at Barcelona. 

Gasly completed 82 laps and set the sixth-fastest time on his first full day of running in Toro Rosso’s 2018 challenger at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday. 

When asked for his views on the mandatory Halo device, Gasly replied: “I don't like it, it's a big mess to get in the car and get out. I think my suit is already broken, we will have to ask [racesuit provider] AlpineStars for many suits this year.

"Already, it's only the first day and I have many holes on the back. You need to be a lot backwards, to slide in the car. It's actually quite weird.

"And with all the winglets you have on the halo, you cannot pull [yourself out], to get out you cannot really touch it. It's quite weird conditions, but nothing really important. I just prefer the old cars.”

But the Frenchman added he had no issues with regards to visibility from inside the cockpit, and that his only complaints about the Halo were related to the difficulties he faced when getting in his car. 

"To drive with it, it doesn't make a big difference. In terms of visibility, it's the same. Of course you see something on top of you, which is a bit weird, but when you start to drive you focus, you're just paying attention to your driving and you don't really see it. 

“But to get in the car and get out is quite a big challenge.”

Gasly insisted he does not feel the Halo will prove too problematic in relation to concerns voiced over driver extraction in the event of an accident. 

"It could take a bit longer, that's for sure. It doesn't worry me because I don't think about any bad things. That's what we have for this year, I don't know if we will have it the next couple of years, but we'll have to get used to it."