Breaking news
Formula 1
F1 set to introduce biometric gloves in 2018
Formula 1 is planning to introduce biometric gloves from next season in a bid to help medical personnel better assess the physical condition of a driver after accidents.

Jonathan Noble
Edited: Oct 6, 2017, 7:23 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber

The new technology, which features a 3mm thick sensor, will be stitched inside every drivers’ gloves in 2018.
Initially the sensor will be used for monitoring a drivers’ pulse rate and the amount of oxygen in the blood, but in the future it is hoped that there can be monitors for body temperature and respiratory rate.
Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull drivers tested the sensors during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, and a decision will be made soon on where best to stitch the sensor.
With the project having been supported by the Global Institute for Motor Sport Safety, it is hoped that the data from the sensors can help make the difference in big accidents.
FIA Deputy Medical Delegate Dr Ian Roberts told the FIA’s AUTO magazine: “We know that the monitoring of people is essential in terms of their medical care.
“Drivers in incidents are no different. We would like to start monitoring and assessing them as soon as we possibly can. But the equipment that we currently use is relatively bulky and is only applied after the incident has happened.
“There are also times when the driver isn’t immediately accessible to us, so if we can’t see him or we’re not actually next to him, there’s limited information that we can get.”
Roberts suggests that the data from the sensor will be especially useful in incidents like Carlos Sainz suffered during final practice at the 2015 Russian Grand Prix – when he was left trapped under a barrier and it was hard to assess his conditions (pictured below).
“Accurate monitoring was impossible until we got hands-on, and obviously we couldn’t do that until the barriers were moved,” he added.
“If we had monitoring on him straight away we could have planned our rescue even better than we did.
“With this new technology, the moment a driver has an incident we will receive physiological readings and biometrics, so he is continually monitored from point zero right through to the initial response and on to the medical centre.”

The Scuderia Toro Rosso STR10 of Carlos Sainz Jr., in the Tecpro barriers
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article F1 bosses in talks to hold Vietnam GP
Next article Pirelli predicts two-stop strategies at Suzuka
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment

More from
Jonathan Noble

Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1 Dec 31, 2024
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours

The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1 Dec 31, 2024
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season

Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Dec 28, 2024
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Latest news

"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
35 min
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027

Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
1 h
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26

The Kimi Antonelli you don't know: Inside the Mercedes garage with F1's new world champion
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
The Kimi Antonelli you don't know: Inside the Mercedes garage with F1's new world champion
Feature
Discover prime content

Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe



