F1MATHS: How does FIA's Formula E steering damper work?
The FIA introduced a new steering damper in the Formula E series, which should prevent the re-occurrence of recent hand injuries that happened in the all-electric championship.
The FIA has developed a new steering damper for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, following a series of hand injuries that raised concerns across the all‑electric series. The device has already shown significant results in reducing the risk of fractures during front‑end impacts and is now considered a key step forward in driver protection.
In recent seasons, several drivers suffered hand fractures after accidents in which the steering wheel rotated far more violently than expected.
An FIA investigation found that in certain crash scenarios, the wheel could spin up to ten times faster than normal, creating forces strong enough to injure a driver before they had time to react. The findings prompted a detailed review of cockpit ergonomics and car design.
Initial measures included reshaping the steering wheel, adding foam padding inside the cockpit, and modifying the front wing to better protect the wheels.
While these changes helped, they did not fully eliminate the risk. The breakthrough came with the introduction of a new steering damper designed to absorb impact energy and slow the wheel’s rotation. According to FIA data, the damper can reduce peak rotational speed by up to 40 percent. Since its introduction, there have been no repeat injuries of the type previously seen.
The FIA has released a short film, A Hands‑On Approach to Driver Safety, documenting the research, testing, and validation process behind the device.
The film includes insights from FIA Safety Director Nuno Costa, FIA Chief Technical and Safety Officer Xavier Mestelan Pinon, and Formula E Medical Delegate Bruno Franceschini.
Drivers who experienced injuries firsthand also appear in the film. NEOM McLaren’s Sam Bird, who previously suffered a hand fracture, praised the governing body for its efforts to address the issue. Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns, who broke his hand and wrist in the 2023 Mexico City season opener and missed four races, explained how quickly the steering wheel can become dangerous in a crash.
“Basically, I broke my hand inside the cockpit because I wasn’t expecting the steering wheel to suddenly come out of my hands,” Frijns said. “Unfortunately, I had quite some damage because I broke the bone in three places.
“My injury was quite bad, but the FIA is pushing hard to make it safer for us and they’ve made big steps from that moment onwards. I think the steering damper is a very good tool. If you have a crash, the damper takes all the force away from the wheel so it doesn’t really move out of your hands anymore.”
