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The recent deaths of Danny Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli have cast doubts on the safety of drivers in motorsport as a whole. People seem to be concerned about the drivers who risk it all for their sheer passion for racing. There was a similar uproar when one of F1′s shining stars Ayrton Senna lost his life after crashing to the barriers on May 1, 1994, during the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola. However, after that unfortunate loss, F1 has become a safe haven for drivers and for more than 17 years, Formula 1 hasn’t seen a fatality on track ( except two track marshalls who were killed by debris on track). How has Formula 1 been able to limit the fatalities on track? Is -formula 1 death-proof? How safe is formula 1 – An analysis:
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Formula 1 has had its share of fatalities with the number of drivers who have lost their lives standing at an overwhelming 45! As Michael Schumacher says, it’s all fate:
The last death on an F1 track was the legendary Ayrton Senna. Eventhough several safety precautions had been in place before Senna’s death, they were strictly enforced by FIA only after Senna’s loss. Several added safety precautions have also come into existence.
HANS (Hand and Neck Safety Device):
This has been made mandatory in F1 since 2003. Its purpose is simple: to massively reduce the loadings caused to a driver’s head and neck during the rapid deceleration caused by an accident. This in turn reduces the risk of the neck and skull fractures which are the greatest cause of death in racing accidents. HANS is entirely passive and does not require any electronic sensors or power supply.
Although some drivers had complained of discomfort wearing the system over a full race distance, it has generally been accepted as a sensible way of reducing the very real risk of injury. As such it stands as evidence of Formula One’s very real commitment to driver safety.
Sebastian Vettel with HANS around his neck
Driver Clothing:
During the initial years of F1, many deaths occurred due to fire accidents. Hence Formula 1 has always been taking safety measure to beef up fire protection by using fire-proof clothing. Propane is used as fuel in F1 which burns at a very high temperature of more than 700 degree celsius and clothing which can withstand that high temperatures are designed exclusively for Formula 1.
The fireproof gloves are made as thin as possible, to ensure that the driver has the greatest possible amount of ‘feel’ to the steering wheel. Similarly the soles of the driver’s racing boots are far thinner than those of ordinary shoes to allow the most accurate contact with the car’s pedals. Underneath his overalls and his helmet the driver wears a further layer of flameproof underwear.
The effectiveness of all these precautions was amply demonstrated in 1994 when Jos Verstappen and the Benetton pit crew survived a fierce fire caused by a fuel leak with no serious injuries. However, in recent years, refuelling during a race has been banned which has reduced the number of fire accidents which occured in the pits during the refuelling era.
Helmet Design:
Helmets are integral part of safety in F1. As you would expect, the FIA have strict ‘super helmet’ requirements for Formula One racing. To gain approval for Grand Prix use, a helmet design must pass a number of tests, covering factors such as crush and penetration resistance and surface friction. It must also work correctly in conjunction with the mandatory HANS (Head and Neck Support) device.
The Helmet design came under scrutiny after Felipe Massa‘s freak head injury during the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix which put him out of action for nearly 6 months. Since then, more attention to detail has been given to helmet design.
Cockpit Design:
The cockpit design has been given much importance since it is the area which accomodates the driver while racing at speeds in excess of 300 Kmph. Walls of the cockpit have been increased in size and cushion has been provided for the driver to rest his hands and head while driving. The seating posture of the driver inside the cockpit has been continuously modified over the last few years to reduce stress to the drivers.
Track Modifications:
Other than the faulty design of the Williams car, yet another reason that has been sighted for Senna’s death is the Imola circuit. People blamed the corner where Senna’s car oversteered as the main reason for his death. Hence FIA has been taking stringent measures to make modern F1 circuits more safe and secure.
Run-off areas have been enlarged all over the world and kerbs are being used much more than they were before. Modifications are constantly being made to the circuits as per the requirements and concerns of the drivers. Barriers have been modernised to withstand the impact of a crash. Barriers are crash tested before being installed in a circuit.
Several pit-lane entries have been modified to suit the rules of the FIA. However, the newer tracks such as the Korean International Circuit and Buddh International Circuit have received flak for shoddy pit-lane entry and exits.
Strict Driving Rules and Penalties:
Rules have been framed by the FIA which have to be strictly followed by the drivers while racing. If not penalties and fines are being enforced by stewards. Drivers are not allowed more than one change of direction while defending from a pursuing car. Drivers are encouraged to follow the racing line while racing. This means that only drivers who are capable of conducting themselves systematically on track would be able to get into formula 1.
Mark Webber's Red Bull goes air borne after the crash
All the above improvements have made F1 safer than ever before which is evident from its zero fatality rate in the past 17 years. However, it cannot be said that deaths in F1 are impossible just like it is impossible to have a race with any accidents. There have been many serious accidents in the past 17 years in f1 like Mark Webber‘s 180 degree somersault in the 2010 European Grand Prix in Valencia (Which is much similar to Dan Wheldon’s fatal crash) and Massa’s freak head injury in Hungary 2009. But drivers were able to survive in these crashes mainly due to the stringent safety measures followed in F1. The current driver too seem to echo the same fact. Here is what they said about the recent turn of events in motorsports and the safety standard in Formula 1.
Lewis Hamilton may be right. If Dan might have been in Formula 1, it may not have happened. This is a true testimony to the current safety standards in Formula 1.
The Bottom Line:
Racing is no fun without incidents, crashes and overtaking. However, we have to keep in mind that the drivers risk their lives in this high octane sport because of their passion for racing. So, all we can do is continue with all safety precautions in place and hope for the best. Sebastian Vettel too thinks the same:
