There's nothing much that's really new.
Back in the 1960s Frank Costin designed a Formula 2 car that had had an enclosed cockpit, but purely for aerodynamic reasons. There was a small vent in front of the driver's eyes, presumably in case the cockpit cover became obscured with oil or whatever.
Frank had worked for De Havilland in WWII and had a big part in the design of the Mosquito. Everything he designed was as slippery and fast as could be. To him that was what aerodynamic meant.
Here's a photo of the Protos. In front is a bare tub that was never built up and behind, #48, a car showing the canopy.