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The recent fatal accident involving Justin Wilson in IndyCar once again highlights the shortcomings of single-seaters in terms of protecting drivers' heads. It may be time to take action, even if this means challenging some long-standing traditions.
Single-seater series such as Formula 1, IndyCar, GP2, and others have made tremendous strides in safety. In fact, prior to Jules Bianchi's accident, Formula 1 had not experienced a fatal accident since 1994.
Nevertheless, recent years have seen an increase in incidents involving drivers' heads, the only part of the body protected by a helmet in these cars. Helmets have become much stronger thanks to continuous improvements, but the head remains the most exposed part of the body.
The issue resurfaced in 2009 after two consecutive accidents. On July 19, Formula 2 driver Henry Surtees, son of 1964 world champion John Surtees, was killed at Brands Hatch when a wheel from a rival car came loose and struck his helmet. He lost consciousness and died a few hours later. A few days later, during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Felipe Massa was struck on the visor by a suspension component that had come loose from Rubens Barrichello's Brawn GP car. The impact left him in a coma; his eventual recovery was nothing short of miraculous. These two incidents had already forced the FIA to address the vulnerability of drivers' heads in open-cockpit cars. The introduction of a closed cockpit was suggested, but many drivers and purists rejected the idea, calling it an aesthetic and ethical nightmare for single-seater racing. The debate was reignited by Bianchi's accident and, more recently, by the tragedy at the IndyCar race in Pocono, where Justin Wilson was fatally struck in the head by debris from another crashed car. How long will the governing bodies of single-seater motorsport sit on their hands? Solutions must be found that preserve the essence of these machines, but current technology makes it difficult to accept that there is no safe and visually acceptable answer. We must tackle this problem head-on to prevent another loss from casting a shadow over the sport. The time for discussion is over; it is time for action. Our thoughts are with Justin Wilson's family, who have lost a loved one because of his passion.
