Racing Car Safety
During all Formula One history, regulations have changed drastically, always to increase the safety of the drivers and spectators. The following table give an overview of the most important changes in the official FIA regulations from the very beginning of F1 until today.
The Full list of Formula 1drivers who died during some racing event is here.
Check my article about improvement in track safety year by year
Check my article about improvement in driver safety year by year
Article abour general safety in Formula 1 you can find here
Safety regulations for Formula 1 cars
1963-65: Pump fuel only. Automatic starter; rollbar; double braking system; rules for seatbelt anchorages, fire protection, fuel tanks, fillers and breathers.
1968: Electrical circuit breaker; reverse gear; oil catch tank; rollbar 5 cm above driver's helmet.
1969: Two extinguisher systems; parts with aerodynamic influence must be immobile, fixed to sprung parts of car only; maximum bodywork height & width limits.
1970: Safety bladder fuel tanks
1972: Safety foam in fuel tanks; no magnesium sheet less than 3mm thick; 15W red rear light; headrest; combined electrical cut-off/extinguisher external handle; FIA/spec/FT3 fuel tank.
1973: Crushable structure round fuel tank ; no chrome plating of suspension parts.
1974: Selfseal breakaway fuel coupling
1976: "Safety structures" around dashboard and pedals.
1977: Pedalbox protection defined.
1978: Bulkhead behind driver and front rollbar defined.
1979: Bigger cockpit opening; 2 mirrors; improved extinguisher system.
1981: Reinforced "survival cell" introduced and extended in front of driver's feet.
1983: Flat bottom obligatory; skirts banned; rear red light increased to 21W.
1984: Refuelling in races banned; fuel tank in centre of car.
1985: Frontal crash test.
1988: Driver's feet behind front wheel axis; static crash test of survival cell and fuel tank.
1990: Larger mirrors; quickly detachable steering wheel.
1991: FIA tested seatbelts; FT5 fuel tanks; rollbar test; dynamic test of survival cell.
1992: More severe impact tests: water-filled fuel tank fitted to test strength of seat back bulkhead and 75 kg dummy fitted with maximum deceleration figure for the torso (also verifies harness anchorage strength).
1993: Headrest area increased (from 80cm² to 400cm²).
Rear wing height above ground reduced (100cm to 95cm).
Distance of front wing endplates above the flat bottom increased (25mm to 40mm).
Complete wheel width reduced (18 to 15").
Fuel regulations restricted to permit only fuels of a kind used by the general public.
1994: Wheels must be made from an homogeneous metallic material.
More stringent fire extinguisher regulations
Minimum thickness of the headrest 75mm, (no minimum previously).
Cockpit area side load test increased (from 2000daN to 3000daN).
Driver aids (traction control, anti-lock and power brakes, automatic gears) banned.
Four wheel steering no longer permitted.
Downforce reduced: smaller front wing endplates, shorter diffuser, deflector panels restricted.
10mm skid block under reference plane.
1995: Engine capacity reduced: 3.5 to 3.0 liters. Chassis must extend at least 30cm in front of driver's feet (previously 15cm).
Frontal impact test speed increased (from 11 to 12m/s).
Load in the nose push-off test increased (by 33% from 3000daN to 4000daN).
Survival cell side impact test introduced.
Obligatory automatic neutral selection when the engine stops.
Reduce front wing endplate heights (to between 5cm and 25cm above flat bottom) and length (must not extend further back than 35cm in front of the front wheel axis).
Rear wing max. height reduced by 10cm.
1996: Front wing endplates min. 10mm thick to prevent tire damage to cars in front.
Data storage unit to be within survival cell.
Higher cockpit sides.
75mm side headrests compulsory.
Static load test both sides of cockpit rim.
1997: FIA Accident Data Recorder obligatory on all cars (ADR).
Energy absorbing structure on gearbox imposed, with rear impact test.
Energy absorption of steering wheel, column and rack must be shown by impact test.
Suspension must be designed to prevent contact of a front wheel with the driver's head in an accident and to provide 120° articulation of the forward lower arms, front and rear, to help retain the wheels.
1998: Overall width reduced from 2m to 1.8m; grooved tires made obligatory, to reduce cornering speeds.
Single fuel bladder mandatory. Refuelling connector must be covered.
dimensions increased; side headrests extended to steering wheel.
Mirror size increased, 5cmx10cm to 5x12.
Front roll hoop test introduced; survival cell dimensions forward of dash increased; side impact test speed increased (nearly 100% more energy), site moved forward 200mm.
2004: Minimum size set of rear wing end plates and engine cover to allow more sponsor space; launch control forbidden; full-automatic gearboxes forbidden.
2005: Reduction of diffuser size to reduce cornering speeds.
2008: A revised cockpit entry template for 2008 gives greater lateral driver head protection, Each driver may use no more than eight engines during a Championship season.
2009: Smaller diffuser, narrow rear wing, Each driver may use no more than one gearbox for four consecutive Events, KERS
2010: refueling ban, Adjustable front wings
2011: Each driver may use no more than one gearbox for five consecutive Events, Adjustable rear wings, second teather on every wheel
