FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Selcouth_Feline]

I'm sure I'm not alone in wondering whether the days of open cockpit racing are coming to an end. I know the recent incidents, with Surtees tragic accident last weekend in F2, and Massa's incident today, were unusual, random events - but closed canopies could have saved both drivers from injury. Motorsport is dangerous, and purists may argue such measures aren't necessary, but surely it's time to re-examine driver safety?

[Denthúl]

I'm sure I'm not alone in wondering whether the days of open cockpit racing are coming to an end. I know the recent incidents, with Surtees tragic accident last weekend in F2, and Massa's incident today, were unusual, random events - but closed canopies could have saved both drivers from injury. Motorsport is dangerous, and purists may argue such measures aren't necessary, but surely it's time to re-examine driver safety?

I think canopies are something that should seriously be considered as an impact to the head at the kind of speeds these cars reach can, as proven so recently, seriously hurt and even kill the driver. Of course, as I stated in the other thread, there are also drawbacks. Damage to the canopy could result in the driver becoming sealed in a vehicle that is burning or when they require serious medical attention and the delay could lead to their condition ending up worse than it would be in an open-topped vehicle.

So...yes and no, I guess. :S

[bud]

Deaths still occur in covered vehicles. because these rare incidents have happened at close intervals what we dont need is hysteria driven rash decisions.

[Stealthgate007]

And it seems like helmet technology although being good, may not be designed with heavy flying projectiles in mind. In the case I am glad it did its job today to the best of its ability.

[7UpJordan]

These things always seem to come in twos when it comes to Motorsport.

Canopies was brought up by many pundits back in 2007 when Wurz and DC crashed at Melbourne, but they thought canopies would prove difficult for the driver when getting out of the car.

[madbrad]

It was an extremely unlikely accident. I'm not sure the body makes kneejerk safety related technical regs in such a case. A driver gets hit in the head with something to an injurious degree every several thousand person-races. Probably not enough to justify protection for that. A closed car is not a formula one car. Maybe the regs for the helmet can be improved though. Does anybody know if there's any rule in place that punishes the team for losing the part causing injury to a person, assuming it has been determined that external forces didn't cause the failure?

[ducksfan]

If these accidents would happen in a bigger time interval, it wouldnt be so talked-about. I mean, the Surtees accident is a big tragedy, and nobody wants to see these in motorsport. The Massa accident is just one of a lot, which happen every weekend, but yes, it is unique. I cant remember when someone got hit by something in the head - except wheels. I dont really think we should change anything in the cockpits.

[Denthúl]

It was an extremely unlikely accident. I'm not sure the body makes kneejerk safety related technical regs in such a case. A driver gets hit in the head with something to an injurious degree every several thousand person-races. Probably not enough to justify protection for that. A closed car is not a formula one car. Maybe the regs for the helmet can be improved though. Does anybody know if there's any rule in place that punishes the team for losing the part causing injury to a person, assuming it has been determined that external forces didn't cause the failure?

I don't think you can design a helmet that protects you from a loose wheel.

It's not just these two incidents that would make you consider such a route. We've seen plenty of wheels detach from cars when they shouldn't, including a few in Formula One, this year. Remember Kubica in Australia? Two of the wheels came off that BMW Sauber car.

[Amanda]

I think the wheel tethers need looking into but I'm not sure that we should alter the cockpits, at least not to the extent of adding a canopy.

[Denthúl]

I think the wheel tethers need looking into but I'm not sure that we should alter the cockpits, at least not to the extent of adding a canopy.

You can only do so much with wheel tethers before you make things more dangerous, though. :/

[Amanda]

I think the wheel tethers need looking into but I'm not sure that we should alter the cockpits, at least not to the extent of adding a canopy.

You can only do so much with wheel tethers before you make things more dangerous, though. :/

True, I'm just not sure if they've got the balance right at the moment.

[7UpJordan]

I think the wheel tethers need looking into but I'm not sure that we should alter the cockpits, at least not to the extent of adding a canopy.

I think more tethers should be added because you can't even see them, so logically if a wheel does come off, the force of having to be ripped off more tethers would probably stop the wheel go flying off too quickly, or make it just roll away rather slowly.

[pilotfriend]

As a retired pilot, I would have to say that the prospect of being under a canopy in an F1 car would fill me with fear. That is a non-starter and one just must accept that it can be a dangerous sport. Flying a light aircraft can result in a fatal accident...solution....keep aircraft on ground.
Froggy

[myownalias]

I believe that adding canopies on F1 cars is too much like making it a sportscar, and it's no longer a F1 car. It would be a knee jerk reaction to add canopies because of an isolated incident. Drivers accept that any motorsport is dangerous so they know the risks and they get paid good money to take those risks.

[stonemonkey]

I'd say wheel tethering needs to be looked at and improved. With Massa's incident the helmet did it's job and saved his life but if they can be improved so that less injury is sustained or a bigger impact can be survived then that should be done.

As for closed cockpits, I can't see that working, reduced visibility especially in the rain as well as the problems getting drivers out of cars.