Formula 1 has shown a green light to more fire-resistant gloves for the drivers.
The level of safety in Formula 1 today has grown a lot, especially thanks to accessories such as the Halo and Hans, suits and new cars. All developed over time according to the latest technical regulations of the FIA, the 8856-2018. Meanwhile in the Turkish Grand Prix, five drivers – Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton (both Puma branded), Daniel Ricciardo (Sparco), Sebastian Vettel (Alpinestars) and George Russell (Omp) – got the chance to wear the new prototype gloves under development and test them for their “comfort and dexterity”. Conceived over the months following the accident suffered by Romain Grosjean in the first 2020 Bahrain GP, when the Frenchman suffered burns to his hands as he tried to wriggle out of the flames that flared up after his Haas crashed into the barriers of Turn 3.
“We realised almost immediately after Romain’s crash that we could make improvements to the gloves and started working on it immediately,” revealed Formula 1 race director Michael Masi.
Algemeen Dagblad newspaper reports that the gloves “have been approved”.
“I didn’t notice any difference. They were fine,” said McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo. And Michael Masi agrees: “The feedback from the drivers was positive. Everyone was satisfied.”
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