It looks like the future of Formula 1 will likely include closed cockpits for safety reasons. This discussion has heated up again following Fernando Alonso's close call in Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix. Romain Grosjean's LotusLotus E20United Kingdom, 2012 > 201213 photos
nearly landed on top of Alonso after Grosjean made contact with Lewis Hamilton. The FIA Institute is working on how to implement closed cockpits safely. It is possible that the first closed cockpits could be implemented as early as 2014. 

"I think 2014 is intended, as we started the project a year ago. Personally I think something is inevitable because it is the one big exposure that we have got. You see it time and time again and think 'that was lucky'. One day it won't be lucky. At the same time it is an open cockpit formula so we have to protect that, but it should be technically possible one way or another," said McLarenMcLarenUnited Kingdom, 1963 > present92 models
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technical director Paddy Lowe.

The current leading design is a hinged cage that covers the drivers as opposed to a full canopy. The FIA has been testing the designs by firing a wheel into them. The challenge now is balancing safety against visibility. While thicker bars are safer, it makes it harder to see out of the car. 

"We are working with the federation to work on the right system of protection, because on what we are testing and working on, there are also some problems that you may have - like moving the protection in the event of a fire or worse. So we need to be very careful on all these devices," said FerrariFerrariItaly, 1947 > present233 models
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team principal Stefano Domenicali.

Source: Autosport