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 Grand Prix safety 1992 infographic
Graphic shows protective clothing worn by F1 drivers and shows how the cars are designed to break into eight separate sections in the event of an accident.
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F1

Grand Prix safety 1992

March 18, 1992 - All fuel is carried behind the driver and within the width of the chassis, rather than in pontoons alongside the cockpit as has been permitted up until 1991. Fuel bags are made from Kevlar, a composite cloth woven from polymer fibre and embedded in epoxy resin. Kevlar is tougher than steel and weighs six times less.

The nose cone and carbon fibre monocoque chassis (the survival cell) and the fuel bag are all subject to rigorous impact tests. The nose cone must survive a 25g (25 times gravity) frontal impact. The driver’s helmet must be below the line from the roll bar to the top of the dash board and the feet must be behind the line of the front axle. The driver is restrained with a six-point harness.

The driver wears a triple layer, quilted overall made from Nomex, a fire-resistant material. Other protective clothing includes a fire-resistant balaclava, underwear, gloves, socks and boots which will provide protection for up to 30 seconds in a burning car.

A Halon fire extinguisher positioned in the cockpit directs 5kg of extinguishant towards the driver and 2.5kg towards the engine. The driver must be able to breathe ‘medical air’ from a small compressed air cylinder whilst the extinguisher is active.

Epaulettes at the driver’s shoulders assist if race marshall’s have to pull the driver from the car.

An electricity cut-off control which can be operated either by the driver or by marshall’s must be situated on the left of the steering wheel.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 18/3/1992; STORY: Duncan Mil
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