Better protection for drivers' hands: Formula E manufacturers test new steering system

Jaguar, Nissan and Porsche have trialled a technical innovation during manufacturer test drives with the Gen3 Evo vehicle: a prototype of a revised steering system was used in the Formula E cars for the first time. This is intended to provide better protection for the Formula E drivers' hands in the event of an accident, as reported by the colleagues at The Race.

The list of drivers who have injured their hands in collisions in the Gen3 car is long: Sam Bird, Sebastien Buemi and Robin Frijns suffered fractures, while several other drivers - including Nyck de Vries and Pascal Wehrlein - sustained bruises. As a result, Bird and Frijns were even sidelined for several races each, meaning that the two substitute drivers Taylor Barnard and Kelvin van der Linde were deployed.

More than 18 months after the first injury - Frijns broke his hand in Sao Paulo in January 2023 - a solution is now emerging: Using a damper system mounted parallel to the steering column, the movement of the steering column is to be slowed down in the event of a severe impact. At the same time, the forces that occur on the steering wheel itself are reduced.

We are sad to confirm that @RFrijns has suffered a fracture to his left hand and is being examined at the hospital. We are sending lots of love ❤️ pic.twitter.com/g9tO5D5Sri

- ABT Motorsport (@abtmotorsport) January 14, 2023

At the moment, however, these are only initial prototypes. If these prove themselves during the tests, the FIA is planning to make the introduction of a modified system mandatory for the pre-season tests in Valencia. This should be even lighter. There are also plans to modify the steering wheel: This is to be made rounder, particularly in the lower section, so that the drivers' hands cannot get trapped.

"We have worked on the position of the steering wheel in the cockpit to have more clearance between the arms and the cockpit," confirmed Xavier Mestelan-Pinon, chief technical and safety officer of the FIA, to The Race. "We worked also for the upcoming season on a larger and wider front wing to try to protect a little bit more the front wheel in case of impact - it will contribute to mitigating the risk of hand injuries."

Research into the cause is proving difficult: "It's plenty of small details"

An investigation carried out following the hand injuries, however, did not identify a single cause that was responsible for the large number of injuries. Part of the investigation involved analysing the design of modern steering wheels. As a temporary measure after Sam Bird's accident in Monaco, additional padding was fitted to the side walls of the cockpits to minimise the risk of injury to the drivers.

YELLOW FLAG ?

Sam Bird locks up and is in the wall at Sainte Dévote, ending his session ❌#MonacoEPrix pic.twitter.com/gYUXfJpIjn

- Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) April 27, 2024

"We cannot say that it's because of the front axle, which is with a front powertrain now, or because of the stiffness of the tyre or the size of the cockpit, it's plenty of small details," Mestelan-Pinon continued. "My personal opinion is that it's also linked to the steering effort. This car needs a little bit more effort than other ones, and we don't have any power steering on the Gen3 car."

In addition to the adjustments to the cars, the FIA is also working on the introduction of gloves with padded inserts, similar to those used in the motorbike world championship. Last season, several drivers, including Sam Bird, already tested such gloves at the races in Portland and London.