By Huw Alban (28/05/03)
May 28 2003

Driver comment on the HANS device seems to have faded away since the beginning of the season, after an initial anti reaction. Olivier Panis, however, has been suffering shoulder pain since using the device and hopes that a new helmet will cure his discomfort. "I hope to have a new helmet in Monaco - if not there, then Canada at the latest. A lot of people asked why I wore a white helmet during last week's Paul Ricard test - and this is why," Olivier explained. "I still get some pain across my shoulders from the HANS device through fast corners and during last week's test I worked with the engineers from Bell - who supply my helmets - trying to find a solution to the problems by reshaping the helmet and the attachment points of the HANS. We also tried some new winglets on the top of the helmet in an effort to improve airflow into the car's airbox. Everything helps in Formula 1!"

The safety device was made compulsory at the start of the 2003 season by the FIA.