An in-depth and up-to-date analysis of safety in Formula One™: Things you didn’t know about Formula One™ – a ground breaking network of measures guarantees the highest safety standard possible!
Did you know...
• ...that the first Safety Car in Formula One™ was used in 1973 at the Canadian Grand Prix while safety belts were not compulsory in Formula One™ until 1972?
• … that Formula One™ suffered no fatality since Imola 1994? That is proof that the risks of Formula One™ are well handled and a considerable progress in terms of safety has been achieved due to the work of the FIA, FOM and its partners.
• ...that the FIA prescribes fireproof clothing in Formula One™ since 1975? It used to consist of five layers of a fire-resistant material, as also used by NASA for space suits. Nowadays, the overalls that are tailor-made to fit the drivers perfectly are made of two to four layers of material made of Nomex® fiber 1. The fireproof suits guarantee that drivers can survive for 11 seconds in temperatures of 840° Celsius.
• ...that for a monocoque, about 30 square meters of carbon-fiber mats are processed, in which the individual fibers are five times thinner than a human hair? Carbon fiber provides a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for applications requiring low weight while simultaneously delivering high tensile strength and low thermal expansion.
• … that every one of the roughly 12,000 carbon-fibers that make up a Formula One™ helmet is 15 times thinner than a human hair?
• … that the drivers have been given the additional protection of the HANS system since 2003? HANS stands for “Head and Neck Support”. In the event of an accident the HANS helps to avoid overstretching of the spinal vertebrae.
• … that the flanks of a Formula One™ car’s safety cells are protected by the same material used for bullet-proof vests? The cockpit walls of a Formula One™ car furthermore must withstand an impact of 250 tons.
• ...that 15 functions can be monitored by the drivers on the display of their steering wheel? These functions include basic information such as gear change, speed, fuel level and various temperatures.
• ...that Formula One™ tires easily endure temperatures of 130° Celsius? Above that the tire treads start to blister. The tires are furthermore filled with nitrogen instead of air.
• ...that 55 meters is the braking distance a Formula One™ car travels when performing a full stop from a speed of 200kmph? The process takes 1.9 seconds and creates deceleration forces of up to 5 G. A driver weighing 75 kilograms would thus be pushed against the seatbelts with a weight of 375 kilograms.
• … that since 1997, every Formula One™ car has an accident recorder, similar to the black box in an aircraft?
• ...that by now there are three dynamic tests as well as twelve endurance tests during crash tests in Formula One™ which originally were introduced in 1985?
• ...that on all FIA approved race tracks and during FIA sanctioned race events a track marshal and a fire extinguisher must be posted along both sides of the track every 300 meters?
• ...that the safety of the spectators at Formula One™ races is provided by approximately 150 security officials, in addition to approximately 130 medics and doctors?
• … that 1,500 light projectors illuminate the circuit during the night race in Singapore and that the luminance of the lights in operation is four times brighter than regular stadium floodlights?
• … that at the Monaco Grand Prix, several divers are on hand to rescue any driver who might crash into the harbor basin?
1 DuPont™, KEVLAR® and NOMEX® are trademarks or registered trademarks of DuPont™ or its affiliates.
Safety on public roads
As a precursor for technical innovation, Formula One helps to increase safety also on public roads. Together with Formula One, Allianz is raising awareness for safe driving and creates valuable links between safety in racing and the everyday safety of drivers worldwide. The mutually beneficial exchange of expertise and experience between Formula One and Allianz results in one central claim: “Drive Safely”
Did you know…
• … that a 5% increase in average speed leads to an approximately 20% increase in fatal crashes on public roads?
• … that wearing a motorcycle helmet correctly can reduce the risk of death in a crash by almost 40%?
• … that wearing a seat-belt reduces the risk of a fatality among front seat passengers in crashes on public roads by 40 to 50%?
• … that with a blood alcohol count of 1.5 g/l the crash rate for fatal crashes is about 200 times that of sober drivers?
• … that when driving after being awake for 17 hours, your risk of crashing is equivalent to a driver with a blood alcohol level of 0.05?
• … that 40 to 50 % of drivers of public roads travel faster than the speed limit?
• … that traffic crashes are the single greatest killer of 15 to 24 year olds in OECD counries?
Bernd Mayländer, Official Formula One™ Safety Car driver about safety in Formula One™
Always in the background and still a vital part of Formula One: Bernd Mayländer, the Official Formula One™ Safety Car driver. The FIA is responsible for the deployment of the Official Formula One™ Safety Car and sends it onto the track in hazardous situations.
"In the field of safety, a lot has changed over the past few years. Regardless of which Formula One™ topic you speak about, whether it is the race car, the circuit, or the procedure of a Safety Car deployment – everything is being actively thought about and there is always room for improvements. There are different departments within the FIA which are responsible for safety in Formula One™ and there are many regulations which are created in co-operation with the Formula One™ teams. These intensive exchanges with the drivers ensure constant improvement. Currently, we already are at a very high level and strive to continuously enhance safety standards in the future."
More exclusive insights by Bernd Mayländer are available for download in the Allianz Safety Dictionary, available March 2010: > more
1 DuPont™, KEVLAR® and NOMEX® are trademarks or registered trademarks of DuPont™ or its affiliates.