14 Oct F1 tests new fire-resistant prototype gloves
Since the start of this year the F1 safety department has been focusing on gloves – specifically gloves with superior fire resistant properties but that won’t impact on the drivers’ ability to steer. The move follows Romain Grosjean’s crash at last year’s Bahrain GP where he suffered such extensive burns to his hand that he was unable to participate in the season and had to prematurely end his F1 career.
Several drivers are now testing out prototypes of the more protective gloves for comfort and dexterity. The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) confirmed its research project is looking to improve the heat transmission protection of the gloves the drivers wear. It explained: “The prototype gloves are designed to deliver increased heat transmission in relation to the currently homologated gloves.
“This corresponds to an increase in the time which the glove can be exposed to direct heat from flames before which temperature on the skin reaches a level of significant concern.”
Drivers should normally be wearing gloves that fulfil FIA Standard 8856-2018, but IFA regulations now allow non-homologated equipment to be used for research purposes.
Lewis Hamilton is testing prototypes from Puma; Carlos Sainz Jr is trialling Puma prototypes; Daniel Ricciardo is trying out gloves from Sparco, Sebastian Vettel is putting Alpinestars’ gloves through their paces and George Russell is testing gloves from OMP.