The FIA will study accidents caused by debris

The FIA – Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile – has just asked the safety commission to work on and understand how to prevent the accidents that consecutively affected Henry Surtees and Felipe Massa less than a week apart.

11 days ago, Henry Surtees – a Formula 2 driver – died at the Brands Hatch circuit (England) after being hit by the tire of another crashed single-seater. Struck on the head, John Surtees’ son died a few hours later in the hospital according to the official version.

Three days ago, Felipe Massa – a driver for Ferrari – was hospitalized at the Hungaroring circuit (Hungary) after being hit by a spring from another car – a spring poorly attached to the rear suspension. Struck on the helmet as well, the driver lost consciousness and crashed into the tire wall without being able to brake. Taken to the AEK hospital in Budapest, he remains in serious condition, although he can now breathe and urinate naturally again.

The commission will be responsible for drafting a report on the explanation of the incidents and the measures to be implemented to prevent them from reoccurring in the future. The commission will work in parallel with the drivers and officials of the GPDA – Grand Prix Driver Association.

« The FIA president, Max Mosley, has asked the FIA safety commission to prepare a report on recent accidents caused by debris in F1 and F2. » confirms the FIA statement.

« The safety commission, which will address both medical and technical perspectives, may influence all different areas of motor sport and will be sent to the WMSC [World Motor Sport Council].

The statement also specifies that the pilot’s helmet will be studied even more thoroughly, even though many advances have been made on the subject in recent years.