Safety in Formula 1: Medical (Part Eight)

Safety has not always been a paramount concern in Formula One, although there had been many tragedies, both for drivers and spectators. This article will focus on the ‘Medical’ facilities at Formula One Grand Prix. In the last few decades, however, accidents happen and there are medical facilities at every circuit in order to try and control any situation which may occur as a result of an accident. 

The Medical Car lines up before the start of the Grand Prix.

According to F1.com, “As late as the early 1980s, medical facilities at many Grand Prix events were shockingly poor by modern standards. It has now become one of the top priorities at every race. The serious nature of some motor racing injuries means that speed of medical response is absolutely vital to saving lives.”  

Around the circuit, there are several mobile response teams strategically placed which include four salvage cars (S-cars) and two rescue cars (R-cars) as well as two extrication teams. The four S-cars are equipped with a rescue cutter and fire extinguishing equipment whereas the R-cars are manned by a doctor, four paramedics and a driver which can reach any point on the circuit within 30 seconds.

Did You Know...that the safety of the spectators at Formula One races is controlled by approximately 150 security officials, in addition to approximately 130 medics and doctors?

The FIA's chief medical delegate, currently Doctor Ian Roberts, will be on stand-by in the medical car at the end of the pit lane. He can be quickly driven to the scene of any major injury. When Dr Roberts arrives at the accident scene he can gauge the severity of the accident immediately by looking at the warning light system located on the top of cockpit. 

The Medical Car will follow the drivers around the circuit on the first lap, as it is considered as the most dangerous and crash-prone corners of the entire race and it will pull into the pitlane at the end of the first lap.

If a driver requires immediate assistance, he or she will be taken the circuit’s medical centre. It is staffed 24 hours a day during a race weekend and is equally equipped with the latest medical devices, including full resuscitation equipment and its own operating theatre, with orthopadedic surgeons, an anaesthetist and six paramedics. Drivers will often be sent to the medical centre for checks as a precaution regardless of whether they’ve emerged unscathed. It is up to the FIA to clear a driver to race and to ensure if he is physically fit to do so. Several drivers have had to sit out the rest of a Grand Prix weekend if they crash early on, and are even forced to sit out of the next race if they are deemed unfit due to a bad accident. 

Did You Know...that two ambulances and a helicopter manned by a doctor, two paramedics and a pilot stand by throughout the race. A second helicopter is kept ready outside the circuit and four additional ambulances are posted along the race track.

Felipe Massa being airlifted to hospital following an accident at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix.

Local hospitals will also be on stand-by during the course of a race weekend so that very serious injuries can be transferred. A MedEvac helicopter manned by a doctor, two paramedics and a pilot is ready to fly at all times, a second helicopter is kept ready outside the circuit and four additional ambulances are posted around the race track. If conditions are such that a helicopter could not take off from the circuit or land at the hospital, due to fog for example, then the race cannot go ahead. Normally, this is a weather issue, fog or rain, and we saw this happen during Free Practice 1 at Circuit of the Americas in 2013. Cars were sent out at the start of the session but were told to return with ‘Red Flags’ due to the late arrival of the MedEvac helicopter.

Therefore, once can establish that Formula One racing is vastly safer than it used to be, and medical provision is a great deal better. That’s it for this article; I hope that you’ve enjoyed it!

[PART 5] The Italian Grand Prix - Did You Know (FACTS)

[PART 4] The Italian Grand Prix - Did You Know (FACTS)

[PART 3] The Italian Grand Prix - Did You Know (FACTS)

[PART 2] The Italian Grand Prix - Did You Know (FACTS)

[PART 1] The Italian Grand Prix - Did You Know (FACTS)

TRACK PROFILE - FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO D'ITALIA 2014

On This Day in Formula One - 29 August

                                                                           1947

The 1976 World Champion James Hunt.

1976 world champion James Hunt was born in Belmont, Surrey. A young aristocrat with a devil-may-care attitude, Hunt got his Formula One break in 1973 thanks to funding from Lord Hesketh. Hunt moved to McLaren after Emerson Fittipaldi quit to join his family team and he scored six wins and took the title amid a downpour in the final race, in Japan, when friend and rival Niki Lauda pulled into the pits and said that it was too dangerous to race. Hunt stayed out and clinched the third place he needed to lift the crown.

1976

En route to winning the title, Hunt won the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Two weeks after Niki Lauda came off the critical list following his horrific accident at the Nurburgring, Hunt trailed Ronnie Peterson and John Watson in the early stages of the race before both men dropped back, leaving Hunt to claim victory from Clay Regazzoni and Mario Andretti and close the gap between himself and Lauda to just 14 points.

1982

Keke Rosberg won the 1982 world championship with Williams despite winning just one race all season at the Swiss Grand Prix. The race was held in Dijon, France with motor racing still banned in Switzerland following the 1955 Le Mans disaster. Rosberg started eighth on the grid and overtook Alain Prost late on to secure victory.

1999

David Coulthard won the Belgian Grand Prix after clashing with team-mate Mika Hakkinen into the first corner. Hakkinen had qualified on pole but was slower off the line, allowing Coulthard to pull alongside. The pair then touched into the first corner as Coulthard muscled his way past on the inside. Hakkinen's second place allowed him to overtake Eddie Irvine by a single point at the top of the drivers' standings.

2004

Kimi Raikkonen took McLaren's first victory of the season at the Belgian Grand Prix but it was not enough to stop Michael Schumacher from securing his seventh drivers' title as he finished second ahead of Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

'No more Mr Nice Guy' - By Jake Davis

This fantastic weekly F1 Toon was designed and created by Jake Davis Creative. Prints are available in sizes A4, A3 and A2. Commissions are also available. If you would like to order a PRINT of this fantastic F1 Toon feel free to contact him via:
                                                                                                                     E-mail - davisjake@hotmail.co.uk
                                                                                                                     Twitter - @JakeDDCreative

On This Day in Formula One - 26 August

                                                                  1979

Gilles Villeneuve continues on with a puncture on the rear of his Ferrari.

Gilles Villeneuve cemented his cult-hero status at the Dutch Grand Prix when he refused to retire with a puncture, and instead drove a lap of the circuit on three wheels with sparks flying from the rear of his Ferrari. Villeneuve had been leading the race after a brave move on Alan Jones at Tarzan corner and looked set for victory until a spin on lap 47 dropped him to second. Villeneuve rejoined but two laps later he spun again, this time the rear-left tyre exploded and left the Ferrari strewn across the middle of the track. However, he didn't give up and raced back to the pits on three wheels, pulling wheelies along the way and making good time. When he returned to the pits, however, the suspension was too badly damaged to carry on and he was forced to retire. Jones went on to win the race ahead of Villeneuve's team-mate Jody Scheckter.

1984

Alain Prost won the Dutch Grand Prix to close within half a point of championship leader Niki Lauda. Nelson Piquet had taken an early lead but falling oil pressure forced him to retire early on, handing the lead to Prost. Meanwhile, Lauda picked his way through the field from sixth on the grid to finish 10 seconds off the pace of his McLaren team-mate. Lauda managed to maintain his half point lead for the remaining three races to take his third title.

1990

After three attempts the Belgian Grand Prix finally got underway with Ayrton Senna leading from lights to flag. At the first attempt Aguri Suzuki's Larousse started a chain reaction crash into the first corner that, via Nelson Piquet, shunted Nigel Mansell into the barrier. As everyone tried to avoid the accident the two Lotuses collided and then further around the first lap Satoru Nakajima parked his Tyrrell on a kerb. The red flags came out and the grid reformed. At the second start Paolo Barilla had a huge accident at Eau Rouge, leaving bits of his Minardi scattered across the track. Again the race director put out the red flag. Finally on the third attempt everybody got away without incident and Senna, as he had on the previous two occasions, sped off into the lead. His closest competitor was the Ferrari of Alain Prost who finished 3.5 seconds behind.

1996

One of the most iconic F1 sponsorship deals came to an end when the Philip Morris tobacco company announced it would not renew its sponsorship of McLaren in 1997. Philip Morris' European president said: "During our 23 years of sponsorship, the Marlboro McLaren team has had unprecedented success, winning nine drivers' world championships, seven wolrd constructors' championships and 96 grands prix. We are very proud of that record."

                                                                                            2007

Lewis Hamilton suffers with a puncture at the 2007 Turkish Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton's title bid took the first of two major blows as a result of a tyre failure. He had been running in a comfortable third position at the Turkish Grand Prix, ahead of title rival and McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso, when his front left tyre failed at high speed. He dropped back to fifth, missing out on two points - the exact same margin he lost the championship by to Kimi Raikkonen. His second tyre failure, which stopped him taking the title on that day, came at the Chinese Grand Prix when he ran wide on the pit lane entrance with a balding intermediate. Felipe Massa went on to win the Turkish Grand Prix, ahead of Raikkonen and Alonso.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

On This Day in Formula One - 25 August

1985

McLaren took a dominant one-two victory at Zandvoort ahead of Ayrton Senna in a Lotus. Niki Lauda led home Alain Prost by just 0.232 seconds after the pair ran nose-to-tail for the last few laps. Senna had led at the start but lost out in the pit stops as the McLarens worked their way through the field. Alain Prost went on to win the title comfortably.

                                                                1991

Michael Schumacher got his F1 break driving for Jordan
Sutton Images

Michael Schumacher made his Formula One debut at the Belgian Grand Prix. He drove for Jordan after replacing Betrand Gachot, who had been jailed for assaulting a London taxi driver the year before. Schumacher immediately caught the world's attention by qualifying seventh, albeit 3.4 seconds off the pole time set by Ayrton Senna. In the race the clutch failed on the grid and he retired immediately while Senna led a McLaren one-two at the front of the field. However, Schumacher had made his mark on the sport and was immediately snapped up by Flavio Briatore to race for Benetton at the next event, much to the anger of Eddie Jordan.

1996

Michael Schumacher took victory at the Belgian Grand Prix but only after a strategic cock-up cost Williams an easy win. Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill had locked out the front row and although Schumacher split the pair at the start Villeneuve had the faster car. However, a third of the way into the race the throttle on Jos Verstappen's Arrows pinned wide open and he crashed at 135mph. A safety car was called out and Williams radioed Villeneuve to come in, but somewhere over the vast expanse of the Spa circuit the message got lost and Villeneuve stayed out on track. As a result Schumacher took the lead and with Villeneuve concerned about some knocking noises from his Renault V10, he settled for second. After the race an elated Schumacher said: "I would not have bet anything for this to happen. There was no way I thought I could win this race. Spa is lucky for me."

2001

Founder and team principal of Tyrrell Racing, Ken Tyrrell, passed away at his home in Surrey. Tyrrell cars were a mainstay of the F1 grid from 1970 to 1998, taking 23 wins before the team entry was sold to British American Tobacco for the start of the 1999 season. It went on to become BAR, then Honda and eventually relived its glory days under the Brawn name. Jackie Stewart, who took all three of his world championships with Tyrrell as the team principal said: "Ken was the most important person in my life outside my family. Without Ken Tyrrell, I would not be where I am today."

                                                                                         2006

Vettel impresses on his F1 debut in the BMW Sauber.

Sebastian Vettel became the youngest ever F1 driver as he made his debut for BMW Sauber during Friday practice for the Turkish Grand Prix. He immediately made an impact on the sport, setting the fastest time of the day with a 1:28.091 at just 19 years and 53 days old. However, he was also fined for exceeding the pit lane speed limit by 4.3km/h. He had to wait until 2007 to get his race debut with Toro Rosso and then won his first grand prix the next year for the same team.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

On This Day in Formula One - 22 August

                                                                1954

Juan Manuel Fangio on his way to win the 1954 Swiss Grand Prix.

Juan Manuel Fangio won the Swiss Grand Prix for Mercedes-Benz at Bermgarten in Berne. Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn and Frolian Gonzalez mounted an early challenge but Fangio soon took control, winning by nearly a minute having lapped every car except Gonzalez in second. The victory was Fangio's fifth of a dominant season and he went on to win his second title with two races to spare. The race was the last grand prix held in Switzerland before motor racing was banned after the 1955 Le Mans disaster in which 80 spectators were killed.

2001

Jordan announced that Benetton's Italian driver Giancarlo Fisichella would trade places with compatriot Jarno Trulli and join the team in 2002 on a three-year contract. "Planning for the long-term future is vital and stability and continuity are key to success," said team boss Eddie Jordan in the statement. "I am overjoyed that Giancarlo has signed a three-year contract with us, as this gives Jordan and Honda a strong platform to build on." Mika Hakkinen's manager, Keke Rosberg, also announced that the Finn would stay on at McLaren in 2002.

2002

Ford vice president Richard Parry-Jones announced that the struggling Jaguar Racing team was not for sale. "Ford Motor Company management is not in negotiations and is not planning on the sale of Jaguar Racing," said Parry-Jones, responsible for Ford's Formula One commitments. The team was eventually sold to Red Bull in 2004.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

Slipstream SA Competition - Rules & Questions

Slipstream SA Formula 1 competition - WIN a Evolution of Scuderia Ferrari poster and a Scuderia Ferrari Formula One car (scale 1:43).

There will be 15 questions in total. 1 per day starting on the 8th August 2014. Once all 15 have been announced, please compile your answers and e-mail them to slipstreamsacompetition@gmail.com The deadline for entries is 3rd September 2014 at midnight. The winner will be selected at random from all correct entries using a random number generator.

NOTE - Each question will be released on Twitter - @JunaidSamodien_ and will be posted on this blog as well!

RULES - 1] DO NOT answer the questions when they are posted. You are required to compile all your answers and send them to me once you've figured out the answer to the final question.
2] When sending your answers PLEASE attach your Full Name and Twitter Handle if you have one.
3] This competition is OPEN to anyone (Worldwide)

Most of all! Enjoy the Quiz and Goodluck!

QUESTION 1 - When was Scuderia Ferrari founded? (Year)

QUESTION 2 - How many championship points did Scuderia Ferrari score in the 2013 season? 

QUESTION 3 - What do these years represent? 1994-1995-2000-2001-2002-2003-2004?

Question 4 - Name the 3 subjects that Interested Michael Schumacher the most at school?

Question 5 - At what age did Michael Schumacher begin his karting career?

Question 6 - Which Formula 1 team gave Michael Schumacher his first taste at Formula One?

Question 7 - At which Grand Prix did Michael Schumacher announce that he would join Ferrari?

Question 8 - In 2000, who ended the twenty-one-year drought for Ferrari by winning the World Championship?

Question 9 - Name the designer who joined Ferrari on 17 February 1997?

Question 10 - Who took over as Team Principal when Jean Todt left Ferrari?

Question 11 - In the 1995 season Michael Schumacher qualified in 16th place for the Belgian Grand Prix but in which position did he finish in the Grand Prix?

Question 12 - Ferrari achieved the record of the most one-two finishes with the same drivers. Name the drivers?

Question 13 - Which team did Ferrari supply with engines in the 1991 season?

Question 14 - Who was Gilles Villeneuve's team mate in the 1980 season? (Name the driver?)

Question 15 - In which year did Michael Schumacher become the only driver in Formula One history to finish in the top three in every race of the season? 

[PART 4] The Belgian Grand Prix - Did You Know (FACTS)

On This Day in Formula One - 21 August

1988

Future F1 driver Johnny Herbert's career was thrown in doubt after he was caught up in a huge accident at Brands Hatch in an F3000 race. Herbert's legs took the brunt of the impact and he was lucky not to lose one of his feet. He astonished doctors with his determination to recover and despite still struggling to walk properly, he finished a heroic fourth on his F1 debut for Benetton in Brazil in 1989.

2000

A biography of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone was pulled from publication after legal wrangles and allegations against the author by Ecclestone, according to a report in London's Times newspaper. Among several claims made in the book, is that the donation of one million pounds to the British Labour Party before the last election was an attempt to ensure Formula One was exempted from the banning of tobacco advertising, a claim which Ecclestone denies: "I gave the money because I was asked to by a third party," said Ecclestone. "I've always been Tory, though I actually think now that all Blair has been as prime minister is watered-down old Conservatism."

2005

Bernie Ecclestone continued his expansion of his Formula One Empire as Istanbul played host to the first ever Turkish Grand Prix. The new circuit proved an instant hit and Kimi Raikkonen went on to take victory from Fernando Alonso and Juan Pablo Montoya. McLaren had looked set for a certain 1-2 but Montoya ran wide on the final lap and let Alonso through after damaging his undertray a lap earlier.

2007

BMW Sauber ended months of speculation by confirming Nick Heidfeld would remain alongside Robert Kubica at the team for 2008. "Both Nick and Robert have delivered very strong performances in the course of this season. They have played a decisive role in enabling the BMW Sauber F1 Team to firmly establish itself as the third best team in Formula One," said BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

On This Day in Formula One - 20 August

1939
The last major grand prix before the war was staged at Bremgarten in Switzerland, and in a bid to lure the Italians into taking part and challenge the all-conquering Germans, the organisers ran the race in two heats, one for Voiturettes and one for GP cars, with the best from each going to a combined final. On a slippery track, Mercedes dominated with Hermann Lang, that year's European champion, winning the race, three seconds ahead of Rudolf Caracciola, and German entries occupied the top six places. But the performance of Nino Farina, whose Alfa Romeo came seventh but ahead of several of the more powerful Mercedes and Auto Union entries, took the plaudits for a courageous drive.

1999
It was Michael Schumacher's turn to step up his rehabilitation when he got behind the wheel of his Ferrari for the first time since his crash at Silverstone resulted in a broken leg. Schumacher tested alongside Mika Salo and Eddie Irvine at the team's Mugello circuit. He limped a little when he got out of his Ferrari after he completed one lap, but after a pause he drove four more laps.

2003
Renault announced that its driver line-up of Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso would remain unchanged for the following season. "This driver line-up provides us with the perfect balance," said team boss Flavio Briatore. "Next year will be Jarno's eighth season in Formula One, and everybody knows he is an extremely fast, competitive racing driver. Fernando has more than justified the faith we showed in him last year, and is maturing with the team as he acquires experience at the highest level."

2009
It had been a decade since Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer had entered an F1 grand prix, but he got his chance when Felipe Massa suffered a serious injury at the Hungarian Grand Prix. A planned comeback by Michael Schumacher stalled when the former champion was sidelined by a neck injury, and so on this day the team announced Badoer - whose record between 1993 and 1999 was no points from 48 starts - would be in the No. 2 car for the European Grand Prix . Eyebrows were raised, and doubts were justified when he was more than two seconds behind team-mate Kimi Räikkönen in practice at Valencia, also incurring four fines for speeding in the pit lane. In the race itself he came 17th out of 18 finishers, and in Belgium he was 14th out of 14 finishers. Enough was enough and Ferrari brought in Giancarlo Fisichella for the Italian Grand Prix.Badoer blamed the negative media coverage of his driving for Ferrari's decision to replace him. The reality was he was simply far too ring rusty.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]

[Part 3] The Belgian Grand Prix - DID YOU KNOW (FACTS)

'There's a storm brewing' - By Jake Davis

This fantastic weekly F1 Toon was designed and created by Jake Davis Creative. Prints are available in sizes A4, A3 and A2. Commissions are also available. If you would like to order a PRINT of this fantastic F1 Toon feel free to contact him via:
                                                                                                                     E-mail - davisjake@hotmail.co.uk
                                                                                                                     Twitter - @JakeDDCreative

TRACK PROFILE - 2014 FORMULA 1 SHELL BELGIAN GRAND PRIX

On This Day In Formula One - 19 August

1882
 in Italy but was raised in England who competed on British circuits before heading to the USA in 1915 where he won that year's US Grand Prix and then the prestigious Vanderbilt Cup as well as finishing second at the Indianapolis 500. In 1916 he won the Indy 500 as well as the Vanderbilt Cup for the second time and a series of other top races. The cessation of racing caused by World War One curtailed his success, but he made a comeback in 1923 with mixed success. He died in 1924 at Brooklands, where his career had started, when a security belt broke, puncturing a tyre and sending him spinning out of control.

                                                                 1973

Ronnie Peterson on his way to win the 1973 Austrian Grand Prix.

Ronnie Peterson won the Austrian Grand Prix from Jackie Stewart and Carlos Pace as Emerson Fittipaldi's title hopes all but ended. Needing a good result to close the gap to Stewart, Fittipaldi looked in good shape with five laps to go after team-mate Peterson waved him through into the lead. But his Lotus then suffered a split fuel pipe and the Brazilian had to stop, moving Stewart up to second. Stewart's six points left Fittipaldi with a deficit of 24 points with three races remaining, a virtually impossible task.

1984
Home fans left the Osterreichring happy after Niki Lauda won the Austrian Grand Prix . Having qualified fourth, Lauda made a poor start and dropped a place but was soon up to third by lap 9. And when Alain Prost spun on oil, Lauda was up to second and chasing race leader Nelson Piquet. And he scrambled ahead on lap 40 when the pair came up to lap Michele Alboreto's Ferrari, who finished third.

1987
Nico Hulkenberg was born in Emmerich am Rhein, Germany. Dubbed 'the baby Michael Schumacher', Hulkenberg's record prior to joining Williams underlined his talent. Juggling his commitments with his Williams testing duties, Hulkenberg took pole in his first race and finished sixth in the GP2 Asia series despite only competing in four races. The following season he progressed to the full GP2 series, where he wrapped up the championship at the penultimate round at Monza, the first time the series had been won before the final round. Like the seven-time world champion, Hulkenberg is also managed by Willi Weber.

                                                             2001

Michael Schumacher WINS his fourth drivers' title

Michael Schumacher led home team-mate Rubens Barrichello at the Hungaroring to cap off a record-breaking weekend for Ferrari. The victory sealed Schumacher's fourth drivers' title, tying him with Alain Prost, and he also equalled the Frenchman's record of 51 grand prix victories. The 1-2 finish also meant that Ferrari won the constructors' title for a record 11th time. It was not all Ferrari, however, as Mika Hakkinen recorded the 25th fastest lap of his career.

[INFORMATION BY - ESPNF1.com]