Renault’s James Allison: Safety canopy may be installed on cars to ensure drivers safety – Formula 1
Renault technical director James Allison has stated that Formula 1 is looking to install a safety canopy on the drivers head in order to protect them from debris flown off the track and tyres coming loose in some incidents.
Allison stated that many proposals have been put forward in front of the Technical Working Group meetings and it is expected that the canopy is the best device to be used for drivers’ safety.
“It is something that has been under discussion for a few Technical Working Group meetings now. We're looking to try to look after the drivers' heads, like that in the very unfortunate incident Felipe Massa suffered [in Hungary two years ago],” commented
Allison.
Allison stated that the idea has been put forward to save the driver’s head which is almost exposed all the time he is racing. Allison also stated that much worst incidents have happened like the one with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa in the 2009 Formula 1 season.
In the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, Massa was struck by a suspension spring which came loose from Rubens Barrichello’s car. Massa had his helmet on but he faced a life threatening injury.
Talking about the safety options, Allison said, “The first of which is a fully-enclosed canopy. Another is a visor where it [the cockpit] is still open above the driver's head, and a third is where you have a roll structure in front of the driver to deflect
away any big objects.”
Allison stated that the canopy will also improve the aerodynamic capability of the car by making the cockpit area more streamlined. However, Allison added that there should be some negative effects of the canopy as well. The exiting route of a driver in
case of an accident and cleaning a much larger area rather than the current helmet visor are some of the concerns.
Nevertheless, the debate on the canopy is still on and if canopies are installed on the F1 cars, it will surely change the look of the sport to quite an extent.
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