Torque sensors to stop F1 wheels coming off

[John S]

Teams to use new tyre gun kit for improved pitlane and race safety.               

F1 teams are set to introduce a new pit-stop safety feature for the 2012 season. Torque sensors, recently permitted by governing body the FIA, will allow a set of bright lights to inform pit crews when wheels are not properly attached.

 Such safety mechanisms are being introduced following a number of pit lane incidents in recent years; not least for Toro Rosso at the 2011 Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix as well as Jenson Button at his home event of Silverstone. In Budapest two seasons ago, Nico Rosberg was released before his wheel dangerously bounced down the Hungaroring pit lane and into the path of fellow teams’ mechanics.

The system and its LED lights have been enhanced by Italian company Paoli, which provides wheel guns to all Formula 1 teams; all are expected to use torque sensors in 2012, although the system is not yet compulsory.

 “The system works with a magnetised non-contact sensor mounted on the wheel gun,” Federico Galloni, Managing Director of Paoli, explained to F1WEB.it. “The operator can set the desired torque to be applied to the nut.”

 Previously, the amount of torque going through a wheel gun was recorded but only viewable through a computer on the pit wall. With the latest technology, software recording the torque values can send messages back to the wheel gun. This means, in the event of a wheel not being correctly fastened, the pit crew will be automatically warned and this should prevent cars from leaving the pits with loose wheels.

GPUpdate.net, Today.

[cosworth151]

Good idea. That sounds like a sensible safety upgrade. 

[Jericoke]

What possible reason could the FIA have had for banning torque sensors in the past!?

I'm glad they've reversed this, but what other safety features are banned by obscure rules?

[lkjohnson1950]

Every rule ever passed has an unintended consequence or two. That's why fewer rules is better. F1 has far too many rules for my taste.

[Scott]

Didn't they used to have a simple locking pin the wheel guy used to have to twist by hand?  If the tire wasn't on properly or enough, then the pin wouldn't lock.  Seems to me the wheel guns just skyrocketed in price when a much simpler system would do.