F1 Planning to Test New Tech with Alonso

Formula 1 chiefs are hopeful to run an onboard helmet camera with Fernando Alonso in Abu Dhabi next month, as they continue to explore new technology, with different views set to be used from 2019.

Formula 1 has strived to replicate the view a driver has, but has struggled to find a viable solution; it trialled glasses – containing a tiny camera – in Monaco and Canada, with Pierre Gasly and Romain Grosjean sampling the device.

The onboard laps were well-received by fans but the glasses were not deemed a suitable long-term option and have not been used since.

But development remains a “work in progress” and it is hoped that Alonso can use a new helmet camera for his final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi.

“We want to introduce [a new type of helmet camera] but it is a very complex process,” said Steve Smith, Head of Onboard Cameras at Formula 1.

“We have had helmet cameras in the past but they were of a lower picture quality and once the novelty of that had passed we wanted to make sure that it was of the same standard as the other broadcast material.

“Additionally, anything you want to add to a helmet has to be homologated by the FIA. Quite rightly, they are very concerned about safety and to fit anything to a helmet it has to be deemed safe.

“For that reason the FIA have stipulated that the camera must fit inside the helmet. That opens a lot of challenges.

“For a start it has to be very small, it has be incredibly light but also, if you are powering a camera it is going to get hot and that’s a non-starter on safety grounds.

“There have been some solutions developed but we’re not quite there yet. We’re looking to find a solution as quick as we can, as the idea is to have Fernando run with a helmet camera in Abu Dhabi, which would be quite special.

“We’ve have presented a concept to the FIA and so it is a work in progress. I am sure we will find a solution to make it work and to satisfy the safety requirements of the FIA.”

Smith also revealed that two new perspectives are set to be broadcast next year, with the camera team having evaluated different angles in the wake of the Halo being introduced.

“Currently the FIA have a high-speed, high-frame rate camera that is focused on the driver for use in safety research, to see what happens during crashes, and they are moving the position of that camera,” said Smith.

“So we’re going to take that space and place a camera looking back at the driver, which will give us a fantastic new shot.

“Another change is that when the Halo was introduced this year it obstructed the view of the camera of the side of the chassis.

“We’ve worked with the FIA and with the teams to move that camera up, so that it’s above the Halo.

“It’s a different shot to the one obtained from the T-shaped camera on top of the camera and it gives you something much closer to a driver’s eye view.

“We tested that most recently on Carlos Sainz’s car last weekend in Austin and we will have that on all the cars next year.”

Smith also confirmed that Formula 1 is working on a way to be able to live stream footage directly from the 360˚ camera located in front of the driver.