Inside Line: Why did Wehrlein not wear Hans-device at ROC?

What is the end of the year jolly for race drivers from various disciplines of the sport – the annual Race of Champions – needs to be spotlighted for the lack of safety standards that have resulted in Pascal Werlein missing the season opening Formula 1 race (and perhaps even a couple more races) due to an injury he suffered during the event in Miami in January.

Indeed 2017 ROC winner Juan Pablo Montoya and F1 drivers Felipe Massa and Sebastian Vettel were also photographed not wearing the neck safety device during some of their races at Marlins Park earlier this year.

After extensive testing Formula 1 mandated HANS devices in 2003 and the FIA has made them compulsory for all International-level events from the beginning of 2009.

Safety is the buzz word in modern motorsport, so if should be for obvious reasons and should never be compromised.

ROC is a high profile and international event, using cars that are hardly the epitome of safety… and worse is the fact that drivers give passenger rides – as Wehrlein was doing at the time of his unfortunate incident.

A helmet and a race suit appear to be the only safety requirements to participate in the event, that the Hans-device is not a mandatory requirement before anyone climbs into a car at the event boggles the mind.

In the light of Wehrlein’s debilitating accident, during the last edition of the ROC, the question no one is asking is:

Why did Wehrlein and other drivers not wear the Hans-device during the ROC races in Miami?

I have posed the question to the FIA and Sauber to respond – let’s see what they have to say….

But at the same time you have to ask the question of the drivers, especially chaps with the stature of Vettel, Massa and Montoya who you would expect to set the example.

Meanwhile, as a result of the Wehrlein saga, I hear that Sauber have now added a clause to their driver contracts insisting that they do not enter in any form of competitive racing event while racing for the team.

I am sure many teams that don’t stipulate this will follow the example. The whole Wehrlein incident may well be the end of F1 drivers participating in future ROC events.

Inside Line Opinion by Paul Velasco

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