SAFETY IN FORMULAR ONE
- 1. Tutor: JAMES AUGUSTUS. MSP4002 VEHICLE SYSTEMS. Barnet and Southgate College FdSc. In Motorsports Technology. SAFETY IN FORMULA 1. Akinwumiju Benjamin Oluwasegun Student Id: 20277275
- 2. INTRODUCTION. Formula one among all other racings is referred to as the highest class of the opened wheeled auto racing as it is been defined by the Federation International de l’Altomobile (FIA) that’s the motorsport world governing body. The name “formula” was attached the name referred to as a set of rule setup in which all the participating people and their drivers must adhere to. Grand prix means the f1 world championship season that consist of various forms of races.
- 3. THE MAIN BODY. The first world championship race was held at Silverstone in England in the year 1950. The cars used then only has a front engine and a drum brakes, the cars are only designed for speed. There was no any form of back up as at that time. Then later on there was a replacement in the year 1955, the disk brakes were introduced with a new Australian driver that happens to be one of the competitors to drive a mid- engine car instead of the previous front engine car. Ten years after the world championship race held at Silverstone London, the first safety measure was introduced which was in the year 1960. Then in the year 1961, the Roll-over bars was introduced as the first safety measure, then in the year 1963 there were new improvements form the driver to the car, cockpits and so on. The use of flags were been introduced, drivers are required to wear a fire proof suits by the federation international de automobiles (FIA). vehicle fire prevention measures are introduced by constructing fuel tanks for the cars, creating a double brake circuit on each car was introduced and cockpits are been reorganised in order to allow drivers to come out as quickly as possible. In the year 1968 there was an introduction of electronic systems. Then Roll-over bars were modified, that it must be five centimetres higher than the drivers head. And an additional fire proof wears were also introduced. In 1969 a double fire extinguisher system was introduced. Also in 1970 there was an introduction of circuit check-ups before races by the FIA which also include a double crash barriers, a three metres distance between the spectators and the fences and also between the pit lane and the track. In 1971 there was a review that the cockpits are to be designed in a way that the driver can easily be rescued within five seconds whenever there is an accident. In 1972 the red rear lights are been introduced, drivers are provided with head rests, the fuel tanks are guided with security foams, six point seatbelt was made compulsory and the FIA introduces a new code of conduct for all the drivers. In 1973 The car fuel tank was also re-modified in order to guide against fire outbreak whenever they drivers had a crash, and medical test were been run on the drivers. By 1974 the circuit safety was made compulsory. Then the FIA in 1975 gives an idea on the best clothing material to be used for fireproof wears, special marshals were made available and a medical service was introduced with a centre for the resuscitation of any victim and also compulsory rescue training becomes important. Then in the year 1977 the FIA decided on the right specification of what the uniform was to be for the gravel traps and also decided on how standard the helmet are to be. In the year 1978 the FIA decides that only drivers that has an FIA super licence can be allowed to come into formula one races. This same year the sheet-pile wall behind the driver was been introduced and also the front rollover bar are been fitted on the cars. In 1979 larger cockpits than the previous ones are made mandatory, that same year three drivers compete in an overalls made of five layers of fireproof materials as used by the NASA, for the first time. By 1980 permanent medical centres are made compulsory on the circuit. By 1981 the cars
- 4. safety cell is been extended to the drivers foot area for safety. Then three years after in the year 1984 the position of the fuel tank was asked to be changed and that it should be located between the driver and the engine. In 1985 there was a test from the previous crashes that has occurred on the cars, so as to determine the effects and impacts of crashes that would occur on cars from the front. By 1986 helicopters were been introduced to be on standby on the circuit ready for any medical assistance that might occur. Then the FIA in 1987 regulates the safety on non- permanent racing tracks. Another crash test was been carried out for the cars safety cell and the fuel tank are been introduced in 1988, that same year it was decided that the drivers feet must be behind the front axle and a permanent FIA race director was appointed. Then in 1989 there was an increment on the heights of the walls, the track safety walls must be at least one metre high, and the pit wall must have a minimum height of 1.35 metres. Doping test are also introduced, like the ones in the international Olympic committee. In the year 1990 bigger rear-view mirrors, detachable steering wheel and rescue trainings for drivers become compulsory. Then in 1991 seatbelts and survival cells, test for roll-over bars were also introduced. In 1992 there was an introduction of official Formula 1 safety car and stricter crash test. Then in 1993 the height of the rear wing was reduced, then the distance from the front wing to the ground is increased and the circumference of the steering wheel is reduced. Exotic fuel mixtures are banned. Area of the drivers head protection material around the cockpit was also increased from 80 to 400 square centimetres. And in the year 1994 the FIA assigns a team a team of experts to work on how Formula One racing can become more safe with use of new technological method, all members in the fuelling team must wear a fireproof clothing. Auxiliary driving aids such as traction control, ABS, power-assisted brakes and automatic transmission are prohibited, then the FIA also uses computer analysis to identify 27 particular dangerous corners that have to be made safer. Test procedures for the tyre barriers also become compulsory and barriers must also be secured with the use of rubber belts. Speed limits on the pit lane was been reduced to 80km/h during practice and 120km/h in races, standard production of helmets become stricter. Then in 1995 the FIA introduces new principles for the acquisition of an F1 super licence and the crash test was made compulsory and lateral test was also made mandatory. In 1997 a rear impact test and new rear crash structures are made compulsory, then tyre barriers have to be bolted down. The FIA accident data recorders are installed in all cars for more precise accident analysis. In the year 1998 the wideness of the of the car was reduced form 2 metres to 1.8 metres, the cockpits are enlarged, and a driver must be able to detach the steering wheel, exit the cockpit and reattach the steering wheel, all within ten seconds. The Rear-view mirrors must be at least 120×50 millimetres. Also in the year 1990 there was an attachment of wheels to the chassis by tethers to stop them from flying off during accidents. The seat and the driver can both be removed together. Crash test becomes very strict than before, asphalt was used on the run-off areas instead of using gravels. Four well equipped rescue vehicles for medical supports and a car for the FIA doctors are both made compulsory.
- 5. Then during the 21st Century starting from year 2000, it was changed that the carbon fibre walls of the cockpit must be at least 3.5 millimetres thick, the impact speed for the mandatory crash test is raised from 13 to 14 metres per seconds. The 2.5 millimetre Kevlar fibre inside the cockpit wall was re-designed in order to guide against penetration. Then that same year the roll-over bar rightly above the drivers head was raised from 50 to 70 millimetres and must be able to withstand a lateral force of 2.4 tons. Then in the year 2001 the drivers must allow a vehicle behind him to pass whenever the blue flag is been raised the third time, otherwise a ten-second stop and go penalty will be imposed. The headrest provided must has to be mounted as ordered by the FIA. Walls on the cockpits must be in line with the drivers head level at the rear and a slope of 16 degrees. More so the speed limit expected during lateral impact test was increased from seven to ten metres per second. Then in year 2002 there was introduction of time penalty (stop and go) on drivers that triggers a false start by causing an accident or collision, or by forcing another driver to go off the track by not following the signal of the blue flag for three time. Time penalties was also incurred whenever any of the drivers exceeds the speed limit in the pit lane. Penalties can also be imposed whenever driver’s runs over a chicanes if it gives the driver an advantage in terms of track position. There was also a crash test on the rear of the cars by exerted a force of 40kN for 30 seconds on a defined area and there may be no discernible deformation and the rear light was also increased in size to six by six centimetres. In 2003 most of the circuit undergoes reconstruction in order to improve safety like the Silverstone Stowe corner run-off area is changed to asphalt, the pit exit lane was made safer by giving room to cars to re-join the circuit at racing speed. The Budapest run-off zones and safety walls in the first corner area were increase in size then also that same year, the HANS system that was first introduced in 2001 becomes compulsory for all the drivers. In 2004 the FIA introduces a new safety standard that even brought out higher requirements for the development of the driver Helmets. In 2005 there was an addition in the protective padding inside the cockpits from 75 to 100 millimetres also the wheel testers must also be able to withstand a minimum load of 6 tons. Then more so in 2005 all the cars front wings, the badge boards and small aerodynamics body parts must be given an additional outer coating of Kevlar or a similar material. This is done in order to guide against sharp fragments of carbon fibre from dropping on the track during cashes and accidents. Also the impact speed for the rear crash test was increased from 12 to 15 metres per second in 2006. In 2007 the cars are fitted with LEDs that transmits the flag signals from marshals to driver in the cockpit. Then in order to improve on safety on the track the spa returns the calendar then the speed limit on the pit lane was reduced from 100 to 80 km/h. The FIA formed the motorsport safety development fund in the year 2009 and the fund realised within a period of five years will be used for safety programme for young drivers and also a training programme for officials and programme for circuit safety. Then in the year 2010 formula one drivers that are well experienced were recruited in order to assist other stewards when it comes to the issue of decision making relating to race incidence. And also permanent panel of the three FIA
- 6. stewards will have to attend every grand prix, joined by the additional local steward at each race. Then in the year 2011, the double diffusers used since 2009 and also the F-ducts development in 2010 were prohibited, this is done so as to reduce the speed of Formula one cars and also to facilitate overtaking. Minimum dimensions was also given for the roll-over bars so as to prevent the development of extremely slim components. Wheels on the formula one cars have to be fastened to the upright with two tethers in the future to guide against lost of tyres on the track after an accident. The outside mirrors can only be attached to the sides of the cockpits in a strictly prescribed area in order to improve the driver’s rear view visibility. Then lately the mirrors has been mounted on the outside to the side pods purposely for aerodynamic reasons. Due to this it was difficult for the drivers to look into the mirrors. Then there was an additional features on the new helmets for example the addition of zylon strip across the top of the visor so as to give a support to the weakest point on the helmets because the visor area is more vulnerable than the overall shell itself. APPENDICES. HANS. (Head and neck safety)
- 7. Various types of flags.
- 8. Safety Belt.