The new F1 gloves will be more fire-resistant
Following Romain Grosjean's terrible accident in 2020, a new generation of fireproof gloves has been developed. These can withstand flames for an additional second and a half according to Michael Masi.
In partnership with the brands that equip the teams, the FIA is looking to strengthen the drivers’ equipment.
During the free practice sessions of the last Turkish Grand Prix, new gloves from three different suppliers (namely Puma, Sparco, and Alpinestars) were tested by some drivers. All of them approved these gloves, which pleased the F1 race director, Michael Masi.
« Since Romain’s accident, we have worked a lot on the safety domain,” affirmed Masi for Motorsport.com. “We quickly identified that gloves could be improved by manufacturers. The feedback from the drivers was very positive, we thank those who tested them as well as their respective teams.
He continued: « Of course, there are some elements to improve for certain brands but nothing insurmountable. We are trying to increase the level of protection as much as possible. The half second we are aiming for may seem minimal but as we saw in this accident, every tenth of a second counts. But obviously, the driver’s sensation matters and that’s why we conducted this test to get their feedback in a real situation » concluded the Australian.”
