Over the years the design, look and safety standards of helmets has changed dramatically.
The first helmets were essentially just leather helmets and later on goggles were added to keep the bugs, stones and wind out of the eyes. Wearing a helmet to protect the driver from serious injury in the event of a crash was a far away thought - but thru the years and as advances in safety has progressed the helmet has changed in form, shape design and construction technology and even became and advertising tool.
When helmets are damaged in a race they will be replaced for the following race. As a result drivers could go thru various helmets during a season.
The extra weight added during G-force deceleration while wearing a helmet added to the weight of the drivers head. Nowadays helmets weigh only about 1.25 kg and as a result the impact on a drivers head and neck is now considerably less. With the addition of the HANS device, the safety of Formula One drivers today is incomparable to their counterparts of the 1980’s and before.
Helmets are designed and constructed with fibre-reinforced resin over carbon fibre as an outer shell. Beneath that is a layer of strong plastic, made from the same material used in various forms of bullet proof vests. Under that layer is a softer, deformable layer which is constructed from a plastic based on polystyrene, which is covered with the flame-proof material used in the drivers racing overalls.
Some drivers have tinted visors for the sun and all of the drivers also have tear-off strips that allow the driver to remove a layer if it is covered with oil or dirt. Visors are made from clear polycarbonate.
The helmets of today are also fitted with a mouthpiece to provide fluids to the driver during the race.
He shape of helmets have also changed throughout the years, these days emphasis is placed on making them as aerodynamic as possible to provide the correct air flow over the drivers head and allowing for air to go into the engine air intake and in the process reduce drag from the car.
Very importantly of course is also for the driver to have communication with the pits and as such helmets will have special microphones build in and drivers wear ear pieces.
Helmets are also designed to make sure that some form of ventilation is provided to the drivers head to keep him cool. Specially designed ventilation slits with filters are cut into the helmet at various points to help some airflow into the actual helmet.
Of course a drivers helmet is also an extension of himself and his personality and drivers tend to express themselves as much as they can thru the painting and designs placed on the helmet. Helmets are still painted by specially trained artist and require long hours to make.
Some drivers have a simple design like Graham Hill who only had a few white lines on his helmet signifying the London Rowing Club, and some drivers like Kimi Räikkönen have much more intricate designs.
In the future it is speculated that helmet designs might go the way of fighter pilot helmets in the sense that high-tech HUD technology could be used to give instructions and help to the driver.
Displays could include information about whether there has been a crash on track, the warning flags being used and whether there is oil on the track.
The use of racing helmets is an ever changing and developing part of a drivers kit and with improvements and additions to the technology used more lives could be saved in the future.
