Lewis Hamilton says the years of Formula One cars looking good are about to come to an end as F1 prepares to introduce the Halo for the 2018 F1 season.

“It’s the last year where the cars will look good,” said Hamilton in today’s FIA press conference when asked for his views on the impending arrival of Halo.

“I think from next year, it’s all downhill from then in terms of how it looks. Safety will go up at least.”

Hamilton joked about the appearance of the Halo, saying he will “maybe start a new flip-flip brand next year and be successful in some way.”

Sebastian Vettel, who has been a strong advocate of the new head protection device, accepted the Halo looks unattractive. But he believes the aesthetics will be improved.

“I think the cars will look different next year. Everything I’ve seen so far looks different. But on the other hand I think it’s something we will all get used to.”

“It’s no doubt the cars look better the way they are now but I’m sure that we’ll get used to it. We’ll work on the aesthetics so that it will look fine. In the end it’s probably less of a big deal.”

Halo is being introduced to give drivers greater protection in crashes involving large pieces of debris, such as wheels, other cars and solid objects such as walls. It has proved divisive among the drivers and prompted widespread criticism over its appearance and questions over whether it is needed.

It will be used in F1 from 2018. Formula Two’s new car for next season will also feature a Halo and it is also being introduced in other junior categories such as the new American Formula Three championship.

2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix