4 – DRIVER PROTECTION
The surface of the lateral protections around the cockpit has been slightly increased, going up from 33 000mm2 to 35 750 mm2, as required by article 14.6.3. The measure will not really alter the car’s look, nor its performance, but it has been drafted in order to improve driver head protection.
Similarly, the cockpit rim and survival cell must now withstand a constant transverse horizontal load of 50kN instead of 15kN previously. Incidentally, the 5mm-deflection provision has been removed.
One can also notice a couple of measures aimed at improving data-gathering during an impact. 2016 F1 cars will thus be fitted with a high-speed camera pointing at the driver’s head (Article 21.2.b of the sporting regulations).
All drivers will also have to wear in-ear accelerometers “during each event and all tests which are attended by more than one team”, again for the “purpose of accident analysis” (Article 21.3.b).
