Lewis Hamilton one of five F1 drivers testing new prototype gloves after Grosjean fireball

Lewis Hamilton's race gloves — Photo: © LAT Images

Turkish Grand Prix

Hamilton one of five F1 drivers testing new prototype gloves after Grosjean fireball

Sainz, Vettel, Ricciardo and Russell also involved

Ian Parkes

Friday 8 October 2021 12:54

Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton is one of five drivers testing new prototype gloves across this weekend's Turkish Grand Prix that have been developed by the FIA Safety Department.

Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo of McLaren, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Williams driver George Russell are the other drivers involved in the test process.

Since the beginning of 2021, the FIA Safety Department has been conducting a research project with the aim of improving the heat transmission protection of the drivers’ gloves.

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The FIA is looking to increase the time gloves can be exposed to direct heat from flames before the temperature on the skin reaches a level of significant concern.

This follows Romain Grosjean's fiery crash in last year's Bahrain Grand Prix in which the Frenchman miraculously escaped from the burning wreckage of his Haas, with the only lasting damage being burns to his hands.

As the FIA state, any changes made to increase protection "must be balanced with the levels of comfort and dexterity required to operate the car safely and for extended periods".

In order to test such levels, the FIA has given approval for the design to be evaluated in an appropriate setting.

It means Hamilton, Vettel, Ricciardo, Sainz and Russell are testing the prototype across the three practice sessions at the Istanbul Park Circuit.

As the gloves are "innovative", according to the FIA, they cannot yet be homologated until the regulation is approved by the World Motor Sport Council.

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