Head injuries, what more can be done?

[patmahe]

I'm aware that the sport can never be 100% safe, but in recent years there have been some terrible head injuries in F1 and other branches of motorsport, Maria de Villota, Felipe Massa, Jules Bianchi and now Justin Wilson.

It seems to me that in these cases something in front of the driver would have made a difference, be that a canopy or a partial aero surround (obviously heavily strengthened), as on the Caparo T1 for example. Which could take the brunt of the impact. Obviously there is the issue with these if a car becomes inverted.



If these solutions are not the answer then what is, can helmet technology be improved to the extent that it would have prevented even one of these tragedies.

For the record I am an F1 purist at heart, I love that the driver sits in the airflow, but its not my head in the danger area, maybe the time has come to put the human first before we read about another tragedy?

Would be interested to hear the thoughts of other F1 fans.

[DanielSan]

They all know the risks everytime they climb into the car and choose to go and race. It begins and ends there for me, the cars are realistically as safe as an open cockpit car can be.

[Jek Porkins]

Very sad times at the moment.

I personally think these concepts look mega, but yes, there are issues if the car was the become inverted.

http://www.marcovanoverbeeke.nl/256389/6949430/gal...

[Logie]

Thing is all these head injuries recently have been such bad luck. They should do more to make the cars break down less. F1 is not to bad buy Indy Cars go to pieces.

If a car flips and lands on you there not much you can do, even a canopy I guess would struggle to cope with that.

Also they might have to be strong, but not to strong that a marshal can not break it to gain access in case of emergency.

[marshall100]

While I like the renders of the canopy based Mclarens, I don't think it's very likely. You could have it open at the top, but the problem of extraction is going to be an issue and what are the consequences of it being hit? is it going to shatter? break?

Maybe the answer can be provided by the helmet?

Maybe all these types of incidents are simply gross misfortune, though even I'm starting to think they're becoming all too frequent.

[Soul Reaver]

I think those concepts are much better looking than what we have at the moment. Just have the side that can open like a small seamless door and you solve the extraction issue.

Now I guess the purists could say that you must retain open top and climb in for it to be f1 but I've never been one to cling onto the past to be honest and I do think F1 cars are quite boring looking at the moment. They are a bit like a 911, whole new car with just a slight alteration to the wing mirror!

[marshall100]

Most drivers have to remove that shoulder cover to get out, so I'm guessing if it was part of that it won't be an issue.

I doubt it'll change if I'm honest.

[24lemons]

I would have thought that a screen like the Caparo T1 would serve to divert most debris coming at a driver's head. If it were open at the top and sides I cant imagine that getting out should be too much of a problem.

I think we have seen far too many deaths and injuries caused by head injuries to discount the idea of having some sort of re-think about cockpit safety. I couldn't give two hoots about tradition if it means that we can avoid a repeat of poor Justin Wilson's accident.

[Doink]

Those that say is there anything strong enough, perspex and all that, well perspex certainly wouldnt be but i would imagine Lexan more commonly known as polycarbonate would work, I've worked with it in various thicknesses in security and anti bandit situations in the past and the damn thing is near on indestructible, I'm sure the FIA have looked at lexan, the fighter canopy video I'm certain will be lexan, take a look at this.....

https://youtu.be/FSP-2VINGa4

If anyone has watched tank wars on the telly where they make some outrageous fish tanks some stupidly thick like 2 inches then surely they could use this to form a canopy, I'm certain a wheel, a spring, a carbon fibre nose box would just glance of it!

If it were to be a fully enclosed canopy then it could be attached on runners and slide forward, even if upside down I would imagine it could still slide forward maybe enough to fully remove it? Or have it open topped like the caparo and still make it removable?

[SlipStream77]

Canopy test using an F1 wheel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e87HIlOIYFA

[SeeFive]

Given the amount of crap that collects on a visor during a GP, which of course tear offs deal with, how would the canopy be kept clean and vision clear in the event, for example of a car losing viscous fluid in front of you?

We could be creating a whole new problem by putting on canopies that cannot be efficiently cleaned while on the move. The question is, following an accident killing a blinded driver, would canopies be outlawed?

[Catatafish]

That top future maclaren would be awesome. Looks a load more interesting than the current cars.

[marshall100]

SeeFive said:

Given the amount of crap that collects on a visor during a GP, which of course tear offs deal with, how would the canopy be kept clean and vision clear in the event, for example of a car losing viscous fluid in front of you?

We could be creating a whole new problem by putting on canopies that cannot be efficiently cleaned while on the move. The question is, following an accident killing a blinded driver, would canopies be outlawed?

I've been using rip n roll films on my goggles in enduro's for some time. I'm certain the F1 guys could come up with something as simple and workable with the amount of funds at their disposal.

[MG CHRIS]

What about a roll cage to go from the top of the air box down to the chassis so if anything does come over the top the head be a bit more protected. There is also downsides to this with less visability for the driver. Its hard to know what to do.

[Sf_Manta]

marshall100 said:

SeeFive said:

Given the amount of crap that collects on a visor during a GP, which of course tear offs deal with, how would the canopy be kept clean and vision clear in the event, for example of a car losing viscous fluid in front of you?

We could be creating a whole new problem by putting on canopies that cannot be efficiently cleaned while on the move. The question is, following an accident killing a blinded driver, would canopies be outlawed?

I've been using rip n roll films on my goggles in enduro's for some time. I'm certain the F1 guys could come up with something as simple and workable with the amount of funds at their disposal.

The Le Mans boys have tear offs for their windscreens, though they do scrub theirs as well to extend the life. Given a F1 race is 2 hours long, realistically 2-3 tear offs that can be pulled when the car comes into the pit for tyres (1 man can pull it off) with little to no loss in pitstop time.

[Doink]

Sf_Manta said:

marshall100 said:

SeeFive said:

Given the amount of crap that collects on a visor during a GP, which of course tear offs deal with, how would the canopy be kept clean and vision clear in the event, for example of a car losing viscous fluid in front of you?

We could be creating a whole new problem by putting on canopies that cannot be efficiently cleaned while on the move. The question is, following an accident killing a blinded driver, would canopies be outlawed?

I've been using rip n roll films on my goggles in enduro's for some time. I'm certain the F1 guys could come up with something as simple and workable with the amount of funds at their disposal.

The Le Mans boys have tear offs for their windscreens, though they do scrub theirs as well to extend the life. Given a F1 race is 2 hours long, realistically 2-3 tear offs that can be pulled when the car comes into the pit for tyres (1 man can pull it off) with little to no loss in pitstop time.

See I don't understand this argument about visibility, WEC cars sometimes double and triple stint, ant Davidson happened to mention at spa that he did a 3 hour stint in his Toyota, how do you think his screen looked after that? I'm sure an F1 car could manage 2 hours surely, we also have such things as pitstops in F1 where the screen could easily be cleaned, up to 3 times in 2 hours so I'm sorry I won't buy the visibility argument.

Secondly the argument about screenwash type cleaners getting onto the track is also a none starter for me after all we race in the rain so a bit of glass cleaner....... WTF!!!

[Jek Porkins]

Nanotechnology hydrophobic glass sealer. With the speed they go, any liquid would disperse almost instantly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mHm1xKs31g

[Doink]

Jek Porkins said:

Nanotechnology hydrophobic glass sealer. With the speed they go, any liquid would disperse almost instantly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mHm1xKs31g

Precisely

https://youtu.be/BvTkefJHfC0

[PhillipM]

Jek Porkins said:

Nanotechnology hydrophobic glass sealer. With the speed they go, any liquid would disperse almost instantly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mHm1xKs31g

Until you get some hot sticky tyre marbles on it.
They already use stuff like this to reduce clogging on the front wings and sidepods, but it does just that, reduces it, it won't stop it.

As ever, the issue with a canopy is extraction in a rolled vehicle or fire, much more of an issue than sportscars with side doors.

[mollytherocker]

I think the answer lies in the helmet.

1 - make it larger, say 1 inch further from the head to allow for more shock absorption
2 - make it much stronger, including the visor
3 - extend the idea behind the hans device to support the head and neck in all directions

I would rather this than a canopy, which brings new risks.