Cockpit in Formula One is what one would consider a workspace for the drivers. Hours and hours of factory work by hundreds of engineers ultimately result in their two distinctive F1 drivers almost laying back inside the cockpit and taking the powerful racing machine for an adrenaline-pumping drive seeking glory.

And by laying back, we don’t mean ‘relaxing’. Instead, F1 cars have the most aggressive seating position for the drivers with their feet positioned almost at the level of their head. Hence, amidst abundant specialties, here’s more about the cockpits in Formula One.

Why are F1 cars open cockpit?

F1 is indeed regarded as the pinnacle of open-wheel racing, and, hence, setting up a cockpit with a canopy for such machines would destroy the sport’s long-held tradition. This is indeed one of the biggest reasons why F1 has held back from shielding the drivers with glass.

A more practical reason is safety concerns. These cars are capable of going up in flames, be it due to a crash or other technical or mechanical failure. Hence, a closed cockpit would almost leave the drivers in jeopardy.

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For instance, consider the 2020 Sakhir GP incident; Do you think Romain Grosjean could’ve escaped the scene unscathed had his car sported a glass cover over the cockpit? Certainly not. And finally, another reason for the prioritization of open cockpits is driver identity. In addition, F1 drivers like to flaunt their unique helmet designs which subsequently helps a lot of audiences spot them on the track.

Why are F1 drivers called pilots?

It is a known fact that F1 is a European sport. And in several European languages, racing car drivers are generally regarded as ‘pilots’. Hence, this could be the reason why Formula One drivers, too, are referred to as pilots occasionally.

But, of course, with F1 spreading its fame across the world, the term driver over pilot is mostly prioritized.

Formula 1 cockpit safety

Imagine yourself driving a car at over 200 miles per hour with no protection whatsoever around you. Sounds scary, doesn’t it? Well, that’s how perilous the F1 cars were until the mid-2000s. One could practically see the drivers’ shoulders and parts of their upper body from the sides.

However, over the years, F1 has prioritized securing the lives of the drivers. How you might ask? Well, one, by strengthening the cockpit and extending the bodywork up to the halfway point of a driver’s head. Two, the arrival of the HANS (Head And Neck Support) device and removable headrest which assured the driver’s safety.

The latter even saved Kevin Magnussen‘s life at the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix where he spiraled out of control into the barriers just off the exit of Eau Rouge.

Of course, the increase in safety did come with a drawback; the drivers had much lesser lateral visibility. But, that’s a small price to pay for the immense level of safety that these components provide.

What is a halo in F1?

The discussions over the introduction of closed cockpits in F1 began halfway into the 2010s, especially after Jules Bianchi’s fatal crash in October 2014. However, many objected to it, reckoning closed cockpits would kill the sport’s heritage and the fact that it’s hailed as the pinnacle of open-wheel racing.

Hence, F1’s think tank had to come up with an idea that not only goes well with the group hoping for safety but also the group demanding the purity of the sport. This is where ‘Halo’ came into play! Halo is a protective barrier that obstructs large objects and debris from entering the cockpit.

Halo is F1 is made from rigid and lightweight titanium tubing and merges with the car’s chassis and weighs around 9kgs. What’s interesting is that halo can withstand the impact of a bus, according to Mercedes. Of course, when halo made its debut in 2018, there was an insane amount of hate towards it.

However, it was only at the Belgian GP that year that proved the importance of a halo cockpit. The lap 1 crash involving Fernando Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg, and Charles Leclerc clearly saved the latter-most driver’s life as the halo prevented the tire of Alonso’s McLaren from colliding with Leclerc’s head.

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Formula 1 cockpit dimensions

According to reports, it is mandatory that cockpits are a minimum of 850mm long and 450mm wide. Why you might ask? Well, the purpose of building such wide cockpits is to make sure that the drivers can climb out of their cars in no more than five seconds.

Formula 1 cockpit material

Cockpits are undeniably the strongest part of the entire Formula One car and why wouldn’t it be? The sole priority of the sport and its governing body is to keep the drivers safe no matter what. Well, here’s all about the monocoque, an armor-like body that includes the driver’s survival cell and cockpit.

The monocoque is wrapped around by “deformable crash-protection structures” that absorb energy during a high-intensity impact. In addition to that, there is also a 6mm thick layer made of carbon and Zylon, the kind of material that one can usually identify in armored vests.

Hence, even in a crash where a car rams straight into the barriers, there is only a minimal chance that any kind of debris could penetrate through the monocoque.

Formula 1 cockpit view

For entertainment purposes, F1 has been bringing in a lot of unique and interesting data and visuals on live TV since 2020. Of course, there are the graphics on the halo depicting the driver’s position and speed and then, the tire life percentage on the corner of the screen.

Well, similarly, in 2021, F1 introduced something extremely amazing- helmet cam. Drivers had a tiny camera fitted inside their visor on the padding that offers the spectators a bird’s-eye view of the pilot.

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