Whiting to marshals: 'Don't touch a car without gloves!'

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A track-side episode in Hungary involving Nico Hulkenberg's Renault led FIA race director Charlie Whiting to remind marshals of the serious risks involved in touching an F1 car.

Hulkenberg was sidelined in free practice last week at the Hungaroring when an electrical failure completely shut down his car.

Because of the risks of receiving a severe electrical discharge linked to a modern F1 car's hybrid system, drivers must exit their mount without simultaneously touching the car and the ground in the case of a sudden failure.

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Hulkenberg therefore duly jumped off the front of the R.S.18, but a group of marshals immediately started to push the car out of harm's way without wearing their mandatory protecting gloves.

"The marshals dived in straight away and started pushing the car," Renault tech boss Nick Chester told RaceFans.net.

"We got on the radio to Charlie and said ‘look, we don’t know what state the car’s in because everything died completely and we have got no data’.

"But the marshals were already pushing it around by then. They lived, so it wasn’t live…"

Whiting addressed a clear reminder to all marshals that gloves must be worn at all times when they come into contact with a car, to avoid any potential risks of electrocution.

"If a car stops, they don’t stop to see what it’s like then put their gloves on if necessary," explained Whiting.

"They should wear them all the time, that’s our instruction.

"You can’t always be sure whether the systems are working correctly so as a precautionary measure they should always all be wearing them."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.