By H.JanGra April 9, 2022
FIA race director Niels Wittich explained there would be a clampdown on what drivers wore under their suits in the car.
There are concerns that some drivers have been wearing their underwear which is not in compliance with the FIA regulations, which are in place to protect them in the event of a fire.
Appendix L of the FIA’s International Sporting Code states that drivers must wear gloves, long underwear, a balaclava, socks and shoes that are homologated to the FIA’s standards.
Wittich has been enforcing such elements of the rulebook more strictly since taking over as F1 race director at the start of the year.
Ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, he reminded drivers in the event notes that wearing jewellery in the car was not permitted due to concerns about safety and extrication from cars.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said that he heard it was an “entertaining drivers’ briefing yesterday”.
But the primary concern is the impact wearing a synthetic material under their race suit may have in the event of a fire, such as the one that left Romain Grosjean with burns to his hands after crashing.
The FIA is set to be more proactive in ensuring drivers are wearing compliant fireproof underwear with spot checks, but it is understood there will be a grace period in the coming races