Formula One Looking to Make Changes to Chassis Based on Lessons Learned from Anthoine Hubert’s Crash

Formula One may have confirmed their 2020 regulations, but there is still lots of room for improvement. The fatal crash of F2 driver Anthoine Hubert was a massive reminder that drivers are still human. So, to further prevent disasters like that, the FIA will definitely take in some valuable lessons.

The Frenchman spun off the track and clattered the barriers before bouncing back into the path of a startled Juan Manuel Correa. The American driver could not avoid him at the top of Raidillon, resulting in traumatic injuries for both drivers. So far, Correa remains in hospital, having just come out of an induced coma with severe leg fractures.

Recently, Racing Point technical director Andy Green revealed to Motorsport.com that the FIA is still investigating the crash. If and when they learn any valuable lessons, they will be implemented next season. This is possible as changes can be made to the F1 technical regulations on the grounds of safety.

“It’s being investigated now,” Green told Motorsport.com. “The teams have been asked to do some analysis work on their chassis design to understand where the current regulations sit in terms as chassis strength. I’m sure there will be more discussion at the next Technical Working Group to look at the next steps.”

“It was massive impact, that’s the bottom line. The energy involved was absolutely huge, and the current chassis design, whether F2 or F1, there’s no way a current chassis can survive that sort of impact. It’s not like we were a few percent out, we’re quite a long way out.”

Green divulged that the nosecone of the car worked as everyone expected it would. However, it was note-worthy that the energy absorbed was a fraction of the required amount.

So, to that end, the Formula One teams are pushing for increasing the energy absorption for future cars. Green also believes that increasing the strength in the chassis’ sides, is the right step in that direction.

He added: “It can definitely be factored in for ’21 – all the teams, we don’t argue about this sort of thing, we just get on and do it.

“At the moment in the back of everyone’s mind is what we can do for 2020. It’s never too late to add an additional panel to the side of the your chassis.”