FIA opens door for new fencing on Formula 1 circuits

It could well be that we will be seeing new fences around Formula 1 circuits in the coming years. This is because the FIA has added a new fence design to the permitted variations of fences for Grade 1 circuits. A Formula One circuit must have this license to host a Grand Prix.

The latest fencing was designed by the Swiss company Geobrugg. They write; "using the latest technology to ensure safety, while also giving the viewer a better view of all the action," according to Motorsport Week. Current fencing has steel posts that have to hold the fence down every four meters. However, the company from Switzerland has created a design that allows that distance to be increased to six meters while maintaining the same security.

Safe for the public and the cars

The rest of the design remains generally the same as the old design, only there are far fewer steel poles needed to erect the structure. The tests carried out included a 780-kilogram projectile flying into the fence at 60 kilometers per hour and tests with a car that plunged head-on into the fence at 150 kilometers per hour.

A key conclusion was that it greatly enhances safety for the participants on the track, as there is much less chance of coming into contact with a steel pole, so the impact is also likely to be less extreme. It will be a while before tracks have switched to the new fencing, but what is certain is that we will be seeing the fencing back in the coming years.