Safety precautions taken in Formula 1 in the 21st century
There were many incidents in Formula 1 that led the drivers involved in it to their deaths. The most famous example amongst these incidents is the incident that caused Ayrton Senna’s death.
However, in the year 2000, impact speed for mandatory crash tests is raised from 13 to 14 meters per second and the carbon fibre walls of the cockpit of a car must be at least 3.5 millimetres thick.
A layer of Kevlar that is 2.5 millimetres is added inside the cockpit walls as it is designed to resist penetration. The roll-over bar above the driver’s head is raised from 50-70 millimetres so that it can withstand a lateral force of 2.4 tons of weight.
In 2001, a blue flag was introduced which means that the driver must allow the vehicle behind him to pass. Otherwise a ten-second stop-and-go penalty is imposed. The marshals are better protected after stricter safety standards.
Headrests must be mounted according to the FIA standards and the cockpit walls near the drivers’ head level must rise to the rear at a slope of at least 16 degrees angle. The speed during the lateral impact tests is increased from 7 to 10 metres per second
in order to secure the maximum level of damage.
The year 2002 introduced time penalties (stop-and-go) that could be imposed on drivers, who trigger a false start, cause an accident or collision, force another driver to go off the track, and fail to follow the blue flag three times or intentionally impede
another driver trying to overtake.
Time penalties can also be enforced for exceeding the speed limit in the pit lane or maybe imposed for running over chicanes if it gives an advantage to the driver in anyway. New lateral crash tests for the rear of the cars were held in order to ensure the
safety of the drivers in the worst possible situation. The rear lights were also increased in size to six by six centimetres.
2003 forced numerous circuits to undergo reconstruction prior to the season so as to improve the safety even further. Tracks namely Silverstone, Nurburgring, Magny-Cours, Suzuka, and Budapest went through major changes. The HANS system was introduced in 2001
but became mandatory for all drivers this year.
Monte Carlo was given a permanent pit lane with garages for all the teams. Bahrain and Shanghai were introduced and they set new standards in terms of safety. The FIA introduced a new safety standard setting out even higher requirements for the development
of the driver’s helmets.
Protective padding was thickened from 75 to 100 millimetres on the inside of the cockpit in 2005 while the wheel tethers were no able to withstand a minimum of 6 tons. All front wings, barge boards and small aerodynamic body parts must be given an additional
outer coating of Kevlar, or a similar material to avoid sharp carbon fibre splinters on the track in case an accident takes place.
Impact speed for the rear crash test was increased from 12-15 metres per second in 2006.
In 2007, the FIA passed the rule that if a safety car is deployed, then the pit lane will be closed and opened only when the entire field has formed up in their respective positions behind the safety car.
Cars were fitted with LEDs that transmit the flag signals from the marshals to the drivers in the cockpit. Spa returned to the calendar after a year of safety reconstruction and the speed limit in the pit lane was reduced from 100-80km/h.
The cars were now allowed to overtake the safety car in order to take up their respective position at the back of the field. This was designed to prevent the leading drivers from being separated or even hindered by trailing cars at the re-start.
No changes were made in 2008 but the FIA formed the Motor Sport Safety Development Fund with a management committee comprising of Michael Schumacher as the chairman, Max Mosley, Nick Craw, Jean Todt and Norbert Haug.
The process of appointing the race stewards was changed and the stewards were provided with an improved video analysis system. All the decisions were to be published online by the FIA with video evidence provided.
Experienced former Formula 1 drivers were recruited to assist the stewards in making the right decisions regarding race incidents. A permanent panel of three FIA stewards had to attend every Grand Prix, joined by an additional local steward at each race.
Formula 1 has always considered safety as their first priority and this is the reason why Formula 1 is the safest motorsport.
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