In its more than 70 years of history, Formula 1 has come a long way in safety and security in racing. When Formula 1 started, the risk associated with motorsport was death and severe injury.
However, owing to several fatal accidents and incidents, Formula 1 strives to increase safety for its drivers. Since 2010, the FIA has introduced a slew of safety devices to make the sport a safe experience. Here's looking at every safety device introduced in F1 since 2010.
Since 2014, drivers in F1 have accelerometers in their earpieces to gather accurate information. With the accelerometer, they can better understand the forces acting on the car. This device shows the exact movement of the driver's head during an impact. Especially after a crash, the accelerometer is very important. FIA chose ears as it was a non-invasive and ideal spot for placing the device.
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Driver-facing cameras were installed inside the cars in 2016 to help analyse what happened inside the cockpit during a crash. With a frame rate of 400 fps, the camera picks up every tiny moment inside the cockpit. It works with the accelerometer and Accident Data Recorder to deliver data and enhance safety. Moreover, the camera is completely integrated into the cockpit to ensure that it doesn't interfere during the race.
Halo was one of the most thoughtful moves to enhance driver safety in Formula racing. It is a cockpit protection device that secures the driver's head to prevent injury during an impact. The device was quite controversial as experts argued that it could hinder visibility for the drivers. However, after several incidents on the tracks where the halo came in handy, the furiousness and debates around the device died down. The device protects drivers' heads from flying debris.
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Another safety innovation that made it to Formula racing in 2018 is biometric gloves. This innovation can give a better idea of the driver's health status after a crash. The gloves transmit the driver's pulse and blood oxygen levels to race control. Thanks to the data from the gloves, the medical team can better cater to the drivers' injuries.
These gloves haven't been introduced yet as they are still undergoing trials. The importance of these gloves was realised after an incident involving Romain Grosjean. Grosjean survived the incident but ended up with severely burnt hands. As a part of a continuous effort to enhance driver's safety, FIA started working on these fire protection gloves.
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FIA displays continuous efforts to increase safety in Formula racing. Now more than ever, Formula 1 seems to be focusing the most on the driver's safety!
