Following the publishing of the report into Romain Grosjean’s Bahrain crash, the FIA has outlined details of the areas in which they wish to pursue further safety developments. The FIA has published their findings into their investigation of Romain Grosjean’s frightening Bahrain crash in November. The Haas driver experienced a 67G impact as the survival cell of his car pierced the Armco barrier lining the Sakhir Circuit, climbing free of the remains as fire took hold of his car.
Grosjean was lucky not to pick up serious injuries, with the worst of these being burns to his hands. These are now largely recovered, and Grosjean has returned to the cockpit recently by testing for Dale Coyne Racing in Alabama ahead of his maiden IndyCar race.
Despite Grosjean emerging relatively unscathed, the FIA’s neverending pursuit of further safety improvements meant an extensive investigation of the crash factors in order to identify areas that warrant more research and development. 19 circuit accidents from 2020 were investigated, including Grosjean’s, and the FIA list is reproduced below.
Vehicle
- Regulation of survival cell front geometry, plus additional load tests in that area
- Review of existing regulations regarding rear view mirrors
- Review of steering column mounting requirements
- Review of regulation and homologation requirements for headrest assembly
- Analysis of Power Unit mounting and mount failure modes
- Ongoing research project: Wheel Restraint Cables (tethers)
- Design review of safety fuel bladder installations in all FIA single seater categories
- Recommendations for safety fuel bladder installation best practice
- Update of the FIA Standard for safety fuel bladders
- Review of regulations for design of safety fuel bladder connections and inspection hatches
- Fuel homologation to include compatibility of bladder material and specific fuel
Circuit
- Increased functionality for Circuit Safety Analysis Software (CSAS) including quantitative impact probability classification
- Review of existing circuit barrier opening installations
- Review of guidelines/process for circuit homologation and licence renewal
Driver safety equipment
- Investigation into improvements to the gloves’ Heat Transfer Index (HTI)
- Ongoing research project: Visor opening/locking mechanisms; project scope extended to include requirements to ensure that visor opening systems are operational after being exposed to fire
- Ongoing research project: Extinguisher system for open cockpit cars; project scope extended to include investigation of improved activation mechanisms
Medical and Rescue
- Updates to Medical Intervention Vehicle equipment, including alternate extinguisher types
- Provide ASN guidance on post-fire decontamination
- Ongoing development of FIA firefighting training module for ASNs
- Ongoing development of FIA high voltage safety training module for ASNs
- Ongoing development of FIA Incident Command/Co-ordination training module for ASNs
Additionally, the FIA Safety Department is also planning further research projects such as:
- Investigation of options for proximity warning systems and electronic visibility aids
- Research into retrofit and upgrade options to improve impact performance of existing guardrail barriers
- Research into novel barrier systems, effective across a wider range of impact conditions
- Research to assess current fire extinguishing media, firefighting equipment and personal protective equipment and assess new technologies