Billy Monger accident prompts safety changes on F1 cars
F1 teams have been told to make changes to their cars as a result of an FIA investigation into Billy Monger’s F4 crash.
Monger lost both his legs after running into the back of a stationary car at Donington Park. An investigation has determined that the “aggressive” design of the metal jacking point on the rear of the F4 machine contributed to the teenager’s injuries, as it cut into the front of his chassis.
The FIA’s safety director Laurent Mekies has told F1 teams to modify their rear jack points for Monaco, adding that from now on they would be inspected by the safety department.
His letter said: “Following several front-to-rear incidents over the past months in various single-seater categories, the FIA would like all F1 teams to ensure that their rear jacking point designs cannot act aggressively during such and incident.
“Considering the strength, shape and position of the jacking points, they may become one of the initial points of contact in a crash with another car and alter the performance of the crash structure of the other car.
“The use of aggressive designs will not be permitted from the Monaco GP onwards. All jacking points used from that date must first be approved by the FIA technical department.”
In clarifying what was acceptable as a “non-aggressive” design, Mekies add that it would have to be “geometrically NOT the first point of contact between the nose and the RIS [rear impact structure] and “protrude no more than 45mm from surface of RIS.”
Not all teams had to make changes as their designs were already deemed safe, but those that did had the revisions passed in scrutineering. The FIA will also ensure that teams in other categories make any necessary changes.
