If you think your car insurance is expensive, you would freak out if you saw how much race car drivers have to pay. When plowing through the track at high speeds, driver safety is essential, so it should come as no surprise when we say how much drivers spend on personal injury coverage. It’s speculated that Formula One drivers have up to $80 million in personal injury coverage—they even pay for their own insurance!
However, if the driver has earned the right to race on the world stage, they can afford it. Considering racing is a high-risk sport, payouts provide compensation for medical expenses in the event of injury. Because of the risk factor, their premiums might seem outrageous to the average buyer. Despite this, staying safe when driving at such high speeds takes plenty of preparation. With this in mind, buckle your seat belt as we learn about how Formula One racers protect themselves.
Parts of the race car that protect drivers
A driver’s body is their greatest asset. When driving a car, you have to have a great range of motion while being able to focus on the road. The length of competitive races also requires a lot of endurance. If you’ve ever sat down to watch a car race on TV, you know they can go on for hours and the longer a driver is on the track, the higher the risk. That’s why they have safety equipment to protect them in the event of a crash. These collisions are more severe than traditional types of car accidents. Here’s what you need to know:
Monocoque cell
The monocoque cell is sometimes called a survival cell because it’s designed to protect drivers from severe and even fatal injuries. It’s made up of multiple layers to protect drivers if they get into a collision. It’s made of multiple carbon layers that conceal aluminum sheets in between them.
Carbon fibre is known for its lightweight and overall strength, which is why it’s a race car driver’s material of choice. The survival cell consists of fibres that weigh around 35 kg (77 lbs). The purpose of the safety cell is to reduce external impacts on the driver’s body.
Kevlar fuel tank
F1 cars have metal fuel tanks, which are vulnerable to rupturing. Leaking fuel tanks can cause fires to break out during accidents. To prevent fires, F1 cars utilize Kevlar fuel tanks, which are considered army-grade. This safer alternative can prevent injury or death, which are much more probable on a race track compared to common car accidents on the road.
These fuel tanks are made from a robust synthetic fibre created by a strong synthetic fibre called poly-para-phenylene terepthalamine. This might sound like a mouthful. However, in summary, these fuel tanks have more strength than steel and are considered fire-proof. As a result, they are much safer.
Halo
A halo is considered a fairly new piece of safety equipment. It made its debut in 2017 and has been mandatory for F1 drivers since 2018. Since then, it’s been essential to keeping race car drivers safe from injuries.
Essentially, the halo is a “Y” shaped structure made of aluminum or titanium and combined with carbon fibres. It is placed over the cockpit and survival cell. The main purpose is to protect the driver’s head if the vehicle rolls off track. It also stops large pieces of the car from hitting the driver head-on.
Tecpro guardrails
An accident at high speeds can be fatal. That’s why F1 cars utilize Tecpro guardrails. In earlier years, Armco-guardrails were the top choice, but they are now outdated. Modern guardrails are much better safety devices than their counterparts because of their efficiency.
These act as a safety barrier and are polyethene contact walls with hollow insides. The guardrails are secured using double nylon straps to ensure they don’t move. These are most commonly used on F1 tracks to protect drivers from flying out of their cars.
Roll hoops
The roll bar was introduced in the 1960s. At the time, it was considered a very innovative piece of safety equipment. In fact, you can still see them on modern F1 race cars, but they’re not the only thing you’ll notice.
Nowadays, most cars have two roll hoops. The front roll hoop is behind the steering wheel, and the rear roll hoop is behind the driver’s seat. What do they do? Roll hoops protect the driver’s head and neck if the vehicle rolls off.
Having a well-equipped race car is essential, especially in big grand prix events. Having more fire protection means being safe rather than sorry because crashes caused by driving at such a high speed can be fatal. That’s where the safety equipment on an F1 car comes in handy. This is especially true when combined with racing helmets and a protective race suit. Next, we will explore what a driver wears during a race.
Driver safety equipment
The outfits that F1 drivers wear don't just look cool — they also keep them safe. Nowadays, there is a standard racing uniform that all drivers have to wear. They are as important as the safety features built into their cars. Countless drivers suffer fatalities every year, and race car drivers are no exception to this. Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about the outfits of F1 drivers:
Race suits
Race suits are a staple for any driver. Made from a lightweight and breathable material, they look cool and offer fire protection at the same time. That’s because they are coated with a material known as Nomex, which allows the suits to resist 600-800 degrees of heat for over 11 seconds.
A race suit, sometimes called overalls, comes in a variety of fits. Some drivers prefer tight sight, while others opt for a baggy design with stretch panels. They are short in the front and long in the back to prevent them from being pulled under the seat belt. The suit also allows body heat and sweat to escape, reducing the risk of heat exhaustion.
Helmet
Obviously, a driver’s helmet helps prevent head injuries, but how does it work? Helmets have a carbon fibre outer shell alongside a foam liner and fireproof lining. Not only does the helmet protect the driver’s head, but it also provides fire protection.
Recently, nylon strips were added to the helmet. This allows the helmet and visor to overlap better and reduces the size of the visor opening. This is helpful for protecting the eyes if the driver gets into an accident.
Racing gloves
Since 2018, biometric gloves have been mandatory for F1 drivers. These gloves provide the race’s medical team with critical information about the driver’s health condition following an accident. The gloves have sensors that send data about the driver’s pulse and blood oxygen levels, allowing them to make the appropriate interventions sooner.
The gloves are made from the previously mentioned Nomex material for increased fire protection. This fire resistance will protect the driver’s hand in the event of a crash. It also gives them a better grip on the steering wheel and more control of the vehicle.
Boots
F1 drivers also have to wear certain racing boots before getting onto the track. While they offer fire safety to a certain extent, they are fairly lightweight to allow for better pedal feedback. Modern racing boots look like a thick sock with a rubber sole.
These boots are an important piece of safety equipment and also help improve performance. Since the boots have a flat sole, drivers can push down on the pedals even in wet conditions. Sometimes, drivers get their boot soles dried before they start racing.
Underwear
Drivers also wear fireproof underwear under their race suits. It is made of lightweight and breathable material to prevent heat exhaustion. The outfit includes a top, bottoms, socks, and balaclava to protect parts of their faces that are not covered by their helmets. All these elements are important because the team is liable for damages.
Let’s learn a bit more about balaclavas. They look like masks with a large opening near the top that exposes the eyes. They cover the nose and mouth, but there is usually a hole near the mouth for a drinking tube. In this way, drivers can stay safe and hydrated throughout the race.
Head and neck support (HANS)
HANS is a collar shaped like a horseshoe that rests on the driver’s shoulder beneath the seatbelt and is attached to the driver’s helmet. It stops vertebrae stretching and supports the driver’s head. Without HANS, pressure can be applied to the head and neck area, increasing the risk of injury.
If a driver gets into a frontal collision, a HANS device will stop the driver’s neck and head from jerking forward. By reducing forward motion, there will be less strain on the neck. This safety device will completely eliminate the risk of overextending.
While racing, full-face helmets and protective driver’s gloves can make a difference. They are both aesthetically pleasing and protective. Having a fireproof material present can accelerate recovery procedures, allowing medical professionals to assess the driver’s condition before it’s too late. However, you might wonder if these drivers are insured to pay for such injuries. The answer is yes, and we’ll get into specifics and tell you some interesting stories shortly.
Insurance coverage for F1 drivers
F1 cars are not driven on public roads, and as a result, they are not legally required to be insured. Additionally, insurance companies will not provide car insurance for a vehicle that’s going to be used for racing events. This is because of the risk associated with the event of competitive racing. However, drivers do opt into certain types of insurance coverage, which we will get into below:
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive coverage is optional for traditional cars. However, because of their value, drivers have to insure their vehicles for weather damage, theft, or vandalism, all of which can occur on the way to events. Insuring F1 cars in this way doesn’t cost a lot of money because when they are shipped, they are not driven on the road, and they are secure and almost never left unattended.
Personal injury coverage
Personal injury insurance coverage is where the costs start adding up. Drivers will have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars each month for this category as long they’re on the race track. This is because when travelling at high speeds, the risks of injury and death are much higher than in minor sideswipe car accidents. Racing teams have life insurance for their pit crews, but drivers will often have to get their own insurance due to constantly switching teams.
Teams pay for any accidents involving their cars
Unlike traditional car insurance, where people only have their deductible, racing teams will pay out of pocket for any damage to their vehicles. It doesn’t matter who caused the crash. It’s the team’s responsibility to pay for any repair or replacement costs if their drivers get into an accident, which is sometimes viewed as unfair. It doesn’t make a difference if it was a shared fault or not.
Examples of drivers getting paid out by insurance companies
Even when wearing racing suits and helmets, drivers are still vulnerable to injuries. During a grand prix, drivers can get hurt, and their personal injury coverage will be affected. As a result, they receive some pretty hefty payouts. Here are some stories that will shock you! Keep reading to find out more:
The Schumacher story
When Michael Schumacher crashed in 1999’s British Grand Prix, he was said to have “the most expensive broken leg in history.” One newspaper claimed he was receiving 65,000 pounds ($105,000) a day from his insurance company. Daily payments continued until he returned to the track. It was estimated that he received around four million pounds ($6.4 million) during his 98-absence.
You might wonder how Schumacher paid upfront for his coverage. Insurance agent Wolfgang Druschky was quoted as saying he had paid 200,000 pounds ($318,000) each month for his insurance policy.
The Ferrari fiasco
In Formula One racing, thumbs are worth a lot. Ferrari title sponsor Santander insured Fernando Alonso’s digits for nine million pounds ($14 million) in 2010. This was part of a life and accident insurance package. A spokesperson for Santander said, “Alonso’s thumbs are a big symbol as, apart from being essential when driving a Formula One car, they represent a sign of victory and that everything is under control and well protected.”
Contact BrokerLink to learn more about car insurance today!
Formula One drivers don’t use car insurance the traditional way, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. In fact, driving without car insurance is illegal. That’s why you’ll need a policy with coverage that suits your needs at an affordable price.
You can get car insurance by contacting insurance companies directly or getting in touch with a broker. There are various types of insurance coverage available, including:
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