1967: Fire-retardant coveralls are introduced following Italian Lorenzo Bandini's death due to burns in a crash in the Monaco Grand Prix.
1972: Seatbelts similar to the ones used by pilots in fighter jets are made mandatory for drivers.
1983: The hazardous ground effect system and skirts, a brainchild of Lotus's Colin Chapman, are banned.
1988: Compulsory crash tests for cars' safety cells and fuel tanks are introduced.
1994: Ayrton Senna's fatal crash at the Tamburello Bend at Imola acts as a trigger. FIA orders all F-1 cars' air-boxes to be perforated to reduce their power. Teams are also ordered to fit a wooden plank underneath the chassis to reduce down force and bring down cornering speeds drastically. The engine displacement is also reduced to 3 litres as against 3.5 litres earlier.
1994: Jos Verstappen's accident at Hockenheim (German Grand Prix). During a scheduled pit stop fuel hose comes off, setting the Dutchman's car ablaze.
Fortunately for Verstappen, he walks away with minor burns. FIA promptly orders teams to incorporate a foolproof cut-off system in fuelling.
1999: A system of securing the wheels to the chassis is introduced. This is to prevent the wheels from bouncing off in the event of an accident.
2003: HANS (Head and Neck Support System) introduced.
The system (a shoulder collar, made of carbon fibre, connected to the helmet) helps protect the driver's head in an accident.
2011: Double diffusers are ruled illegal to reduce speed. F-ducts, which are operated by covering a hole inside the cockpit with the hand — and hence risky since the driver has only one hand on the steering wheel — are also banned.
Safety equipment
* A fail-safe fire extinguisher in all F-1 cars. It can be operated by the driver to put out fire in the cockpit and engine compartment.
* Mandatory seatbelts conforming to FIA standards.
They consist of two shoulder straps, one abdominal strap and two straps between the legs.
* A circuit breaker switch in the cockpit to disable the main electrical circuit.
* Adequately padded and cushioned cockpit to protect the driver in the event of a crash. Special care is taken to protect the head and legs.
* F-1 cars have a rear red light which is switched on when driving in heavy rain.
* The driver's seat is built in such a way that in the event of an accident he can be easily and quickly carried out along with the seat and with his seatbelts still fastened.
