Gloves with knuckle protection: FIA amends International Sporting Code for 2024/25 Formula E season

The FIA has responded to the large number of hand injuries that have occurred since the introduction of the Gen3 cars in Formula E. From next season, drivers will be required to wear gloves with integrated knuckle protection when competing in the Formula E World Championship. This was decided at the meeting of the World Motorsport Council at the beginning of June.

Robin Frijns, Sebastien Buemi, Oliver Rowland, Pascal Wehrlein, Sam Bird - the list of drivers who have suffered hand injuries in accidents during the last two Formula E seasons is remarkably long. One of the main reasons for this is the sluggish steering of the Gen3 cars, as this generation of cars now has an additional powertrain on the front axle that is used for recuperation. From the coming season, this MGU may also be used to accelerate the cars.

In order to minimise the risk of injury, the FIA is now intervening and prescribing new gloves with wrist protection from the 2024/25 season. Furthermore, the gloves must be made of fireproof material in accordance with the FIA 8856-2018 standard. This stipulates that the driver's palms must be protected from second-degree burns for 9.5 seconds in the event of a fire, while the rest of the skin covered by the gloves must be protected for 13 seconds.

Driver's licence no longer necessary

As the drivers' equipment is independent of the technical and sporting regulations of a racing series, it is defined for all FIA-licensed racing series in Appendix L of the International Sporting Code. A corresponding passage was added to Chapter 3, Article 2, which, however, only applies to the Formula E World Championship.

In addition, the passage in the International Sporting Code stating that a valid driving licence is required to obtain a Formula E racing licence has been deleted. The same change was also made to the admission to the Super Licence for the Formula 1 World Championship.