Racing Track 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 racing car 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
Racing Tracks
1970: Considerations on circuit design published: track verges minimum 3m.;double guardrails; spectators at least 3m. behind fencing; barrier between pitlane and track; track width, surface, and gradient change regulations; straw bales banned; mandatory FIA inspections.
1972: Circuit Safety Criteria published; debris fence specifications.
1973: Catch fences; rescue equipment; starting grid dimensions.
1974: Catch fences + sand.
1975: Marshal posts service roads
1977: Gravel arrester beds defined.
1980: Obligatory permanent medical centre.
1981: Tyre barriers; pitlane minimum width 10m.
1984: Concrete wall may replace guardrails.
1985: Catch fences banned.
1987: Criteria for temporary circuits.
1989: Track side barrier min. height 1m.; pit wall min. 1m35.
2004: Pit lane speed limited to 100km/h
Organization
1963: Flag signalling code
1971: Personnel, equipment and duties specified in race super-vision, marshalling, signals.
1973: Fire service regs.
1975: Medical service; resuscitation centre; obligatory rescue exercise.
1974: 2x2 staggered starting grid with 12m length per car.
1978: Grid 14m per car.
1979: FIA-appointed permanent race starter.
1980: FIA approval of medic. service obligatory; fast rescue car regulations.
1981: Grid 1x1x1.
1986: Permanent FIA medical service inspector. Medical helicopter obligatory.
1987: Grid 16m per car.
1988: Permanent FIA race director
1990: Driver extrication exercise obligatory.
1992: Safety Car introduced.
1993: Pit lane speed limited to 50km/h in practices.
1994: Pit lane speed limited to 80km/h in practice, 120 km/h in the race. Fire-protective clothing for all refuelling crews Burns treatment material in each pit obligatory.
Pit lane access new restrictions. Creation of the Advisory Expert Group, to apply new technology to safety in F1.
1995: Minimum safety services recommended for private testing. Clarification of blue, yellow, and white flags rules. FIA Doctor given Tech. Assistant.
1996: Standardization of FIA medical and safety cars. Improved Safety Car procedure. Fire exercises with Teams. Transformation of starting lights and procedure.
1997: FIA approval for all Chief Medical Officers and medical centres. Revised accident intervention plan. Safety Car: more powerful; may be used for wet race starts; permanent professional race driver engaged.
1999: At least 4 medical intervention cars, + FIA Doctor car, obligatory. Pit lane exit control by red and green lights and blue warning flag, practice and race
2003: Changed points system: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1
Cars may not be refuelled between qualifying and race. Team orders are prohibited.
2004: each driver must select his wet- and dry-weather compound before second qualifying.
2005: Tyre switching during the race forbidden, except for safety reasons. Engines must last 2 complete race weekends.
2006: Tyre changes allowed again.
2009: Changed point system: 25-20-15-10-8-6-5-3-2-1, experienced former F1 drivers to assist stewards, return of slick tires
2010: Changed point system: 25-18-15-10-8-6-4-2-1 point
