Fortunately, it is rare for a Formula 1 driver to be so badly injured after an accident that he can no longer get out of his car. However, given the speeds and potential danger of the sport, there are steps to take them out if necessary.
A new video hosted by Matt Amys sets out the procedure for removing an injured driver from the cockpit of an FIA open-wheel race car. The demonstration takes place in a simulated cockpit on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit.
The test sees Amys strapped into an F1 style racing seat with a full race suit, HANS device and helmet. The first step is to determine whether or not the driver is conscious and, if so, whether he is in pain.
Next, the medical staff asks if the driver is able to take off his own helmet and gloves.
“If the driver can do that, they breathe clearly,” explains Martin Hunt, a BARC rescue coordinator and member of the TOCA Safety team. “So we’re going to have them remove their own helmet as the first approach because obviously it’s much better if someone removes their own helmet rather than us doing it.”
Then the drivers are strapped into their seats. It may seem like they already need to be strapped into the car (and they are), but the entire seat is used as a makeshift stretcher to remove the driver from the car.
To keep them safe when removed, all FIA-approved open-wheel racing seats come with hidden straps wrapped around the driver in various places. The rescue team then uses another set of straps to lift the seat and driver out of the vehicle.
“So there are four lifting points and you have four people to lift,” Hunt says. “Now that the cars are equipped with a halo, it’s a bit clunkier than before. It’s a bit of a higher lift.”
On the way out of the car, the team places a board under the driver so that they can rest the seat on the car while the rescue members all move to the side and free the driver completely from the car.
From there, the driver can be taken to the medical center for further checks. While it’s not very common, it’s vital, so the team needs to practice it often to ensure that when called upon to actually do it, they can quickly and gently remove the driver.