Sam Bird’s hand injury in Monaco, which will sideline him from the McLaren team for at least three races, marks the fifth such injury for a Formula E driver in the past 16 months. This follows incidents involving Robin Frijns in Mexico City in January 2023, Sebastien Buemi in Sao Paulo in March 2023, Pascal Wehrlein in Rome in July 2023, and Nyck de Vries in Tokyo this March. Bird also previously broke his hand at the London E-Prix in July 2022. While injuries are not uncommon in motorsport, the frequency of hand injuries in Formula E raises concerns and prompts questions about the underlying causes.
There appear to be two main scenarios leading to these accidents. In one scenario, the driver’s hand is crushed against the monocoque in a collision between wheels or between a wheel and a barrier. In the other scenario, the driver’s hands flail off the wheel and then strike their own steering wheel upon rebound, causing injury. The Gen3 car presents a challenge in terms of providing adequate clearance between the steering wheel rim and the strong composite cockpit sides of the survival cells. The FIA has taken steps to address this issue by allowing padding for the cockpit rim and internal walls, as well as consulting with teams to gather information on driver hand clearances. Additional protection measures were introduced in time for the Valencia test in October last year.
However, protecting drivers further is a complex task. The design and homologation of the car limit the possibility of relocating the driver and steering wheel further rearwards. Currently, extra padding for drivers is not mandatory by regulation, and different teams have implemented varying levels of protection in their monocoques. Robin Frijns, who suffered a serious hand injury in Mexico City, has been vocal about the need for more measures to protect drivers. He highlighted the difference in approach between drivers who have experienced hand injuries and those who haven’t, with the former exercising more caution. This raises concerns about drivers choosing to release the wheel rather than engage in accident scenarios, which is not ideal for the series.
Implementing a reliable torque-limiting system for the Gen3 steering presents a significant challenge for the FIA in the short term. Developing a system that can handle major kerb strikes in chicanes while also being practical for street circuits would require substantial resources. A more feasible option in the short term could be the introduction of a more detailed and permanent structure of protection, similar to the headrest collar in cars with high-density foam. Another potential solution could be the use of MotoGP-style gloves with carbon or hard plastic elements to protect the knuckles and hands of competitors. However, the certification process for such changes may take time.
Mestelan Pinon, the Chief Technical Officer of the FIA Formula E Championship, stated that there is no obvious reason for the recent string of hand injuries. The FIA has conducted thorough checks on various aspects, including suspension design, robustness, and tire resistance. While some updates have already been introduced, the focus is on two main improvements that could potentially be implemented before the end of the current season. The goal is to propose effective solutions to mitigate the issue and prioritize driver safety.
Both Sam Bird and Robin Frijns understand the importance of addressing this issue, with Bird recovering from his second hand breakage in 20 months and Frijns racing while mindful of the ongoing risk. Actions such as trialing new gloves could be taken by the end of the current season to further enhance driver protection.