The New Safety Standard F1 Helmet Looks Weirdly Sinister

FIA has revealed a new helmet standard for F1 next year, with better ballistic protection and a weirdly small visor opening
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The helmet you see here is not a prop for a post-apocalyptic action film featuring authoritarian soldiers wanting to crack down on the local populace. The lid is actually a showcase for the new FIA helmet standard that’s coming to F1 next year, and the reason it looks weirdly sinister is the already small visor aperture of the old design has been lowered by 10mm.

It’s supposed to be for better ballistic protection, something the FIA tested extensively. How? By firing a 225g projectile in its direction at 150mph. Combined with the new Halo device, a repeat of the kind of head injury sustained by Felipe Massa in 2009 - when the Brazilian was struck by a stray coil spring - should now be very unlikely.

The new helmet is also capable of withstanding a 10kg weight being dropped onto it from a height of 5.1 metres without transmitting a force of over 10 kN to the wearer, and was tested for flame resistance by being exposed to a 790-degree centigrade fire.

It’s better at absorbing energy whatever the impact, and can even be shot at with an air rifle without the pellets entering the inside of the helmet.

Looks like the prop from a post-apocalyptic action film. Actually the FIA's new F1 helmet standard...
Looks like the prop from a post-apocalyptic action film. Actually the FIA…

FIA Safety Director Laurent Mekies had the following to say about the new standard:

“The current top-end helmets are already the safest in the world but the new standard will take them to the next level.

“It is important for all of our safety research that we continually strive to improve and this is why we are requiring all manufacturers to meet this tougher standard for our championships.”

Comments

TheDriver 1

Can’t wait to see the cinematic F1 promos. F1 will look scary once again.

06/07/2018 - 12:12 |
144 | 2

I think Kylo Ren was involved somehow in this…..

06/07/2018 - 12:24 |
52 | 2

Thats if youll be able to see it through the halo

06/07/2018 - 12:43 |
0 | 0
Wogmidget

Wonder where they got the idea from . . .

06/07/2018 - 12:18 |
34 | 0

Or

06/07/2018 - 13:11 |
28 | 0
BenPaye(JDMSquad)(MX5Squad)(LFAsquad)(Subie Squad) (Rotary F

Daft Punk intensifies

06/07/2018 - 12:18 |
10 | 0
Robert Gracie

I think Kylo Ren was on the design team for this one…..

06/07/2018 - 12:19 |
2 | 2
Ali Mahfooz

I thought they’d get rid of the Halo for a better crash standard helmet. :/

06/07/2018 - 12:20 |
0 | 0
₩!Ź@ŔĐ Transit supervan

In reply to by Ali Mahfooz

A helmet isn’t going to save you from a wheel going at 200kp/h at your head or a car mounting your head . The halo is still necessary . This helmet helps with the massa2009 type incidents.

06/07/2018 - 12:54 |
4 | 0
Manuel Kunz

That poleposition… it belongs to me!

06/07/2018 - 12:22 |
64 | 0

Exactly what I said xD!!

06/07/2018 - 12:23 |
0 | 0
OctyVRS

I think they are just trying to make it harder for f1 drivers to see. First they put something in front of them which im sure drivers have adapted to already then they make the visor smaller. give it 2 more years and they will get them to drive with blindfolds.

06/07/2018 - 12:22 |
78 | 0
₩!Ź@ŔĐ Transit supervan

In reply to by OctyVRS

I know this a sarcastic comment. But both the halo and this new helmet do virtually nothing to visibility.

06/07/2018 - 12:57 |
20 | 2

Why not both?

06/07/2018 - 13:05 |
80 | 0
Griffin Mackenzie

In reply to by OctyVRS

Maximum sun protection

06/07/2018 - 15:52 |
20 | 0

50 Shades of Formula 1 XD

06/07/2018 - 20:10 |
6 | 0
RIP_Fish

Looks like a pubg level 3 helmet

06/07/2018 - 13:55 |
32 | 0

Lord Tachanka has joined the race

06/07/2018 - 23:08 |
6 | 0
Anonymous

Darth Hamilton has returned.

06/07/2018 - 15:20 |
0 | 0
dmackster1124

Daft punk called, they want their helmets back

06/07/2018 - 15:24 |
50 | 0

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