Motorsports health and safety: Is our favorite sport safe?

Is motorsport safe?

The question crosses the mind of every person who watches or takes part is motorsport, but the question was brought to the front of conversation after the F1 Qatar Grand Prix.

Anyone who watched the race would have seen the tole the heat had on the drivers.

Logan Sargeant retired due to feeling unwell and had to be helped from the car, his teammate Alex Albon also had to be helped from the car after the race.

It was revealed that multiple drivers vomited in their helmet, Esteban Ocon being one of them and drivers fainted after the race had finished.

Lance Stroll struggled to get out of the car and when he did medical personal, and mechanics rushed to his aid when he was suspected to have fainted. The Aston Martins on board camera also caught Stroll passing out while driving.

Yuki Tsundo, Lando Norris and George Russel were seen opening their visors at moments in order to get some air and Fernando Alonso complained about the heat of his seat and suggested he had ended up with burns in interviews after the checkered flag.

Charles Leclerc struggled to answer questions in the media pen and the cool down room was rightfully named as the top three were seen visibly exhausted, Oscar Piastri was even seen laying on the floor.

Fans were concerned about the wellbeing of the drivers, but everyone has been confirmed to be alright, but the question remained, is motorsports safe?

Motorsports is one of the most dangerous sports in the world with a long list of fatalities since its invention but in modern society there are few.

Sadly, there are still racers who have passed more recently but organisations have adapted, changed and regulated to try and make motorsports safe.

Fireproof Suits and Helmets

In all championships drivers have to wear fireproof overalls, undershirts, gloves, balaclavas, socks and shoes, and depending on the type of racing some championships mandate what type of underwear the racers can use.

These suits hope to protect the drivers from extreme heat, Romain Grosjean was protected by his suit when he was involved in a horrific crash in Bahrain 2020 where his car burst into flames after hitting the barriers.

Racers at all levels are required to wear helmets. These helmets have a outer shell of carbon fibre and an inner shell of thick polystyrene and padding to protect the racers from head trauma.

Car Equipment

Depending on the championship the cars have been manufactured with safety precautions that haven been adapted over the years to cope with the changing technology.

Race cars have seatbelts that are stronger than an average car and seats that are modified to their bodies.

Formula 1 cars are made to break apart easily when they hit anything with extreme force to protect the driver inside.

NASCAR cars along with other similar championships have roll cages which stop the car from bending inwards when they collide with other cars or the wall.

Circuits

While old racing circuits continue to amaze, and new circuits are being built, safety is always on the minds of organisers.

Tracks go through vigorous testing. These tests include simulations, test drives and races and track walks with professionals. These tests take place before, after and during race weekends.

Health and Safety

At every F1 event and many other championships team of health and safety personal are there. These teams work together to make sure the tracks are safe, and everyone involved in the race including fans are safe.

Championships have health and safety regulations where drivers and teams can be penalised if it is revealed that they have broken those rules. These regulations are adapted and changed if needed.

Marshals

Every racetrack has volunteer or paid marshals who enable the safe and efficient operation of events. You will see these people when you attend races or watch them on TV.

Marshalls help the fans at events conduct themselves safely but they’re main purpose is the safety of the track. They wave the relevant flags and help clear the tracks after collisions. They are the key factor to informing the drivers and the organizers what is happening on track.

Are motorsports safe?

Changes are constantly being made to adapt to new technology while still being as safe as it can be and the safety rules and regulations help everyone understand how to be safe while enjoying motorsports.

Although motorsports will never be fully safe we can work towards making it the safest it can be.

- by Lizzy Oxendale