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This article first appeared in GP Racing magazine.
For a long time, fire was a Formula 1 driver's greatest enemy. One of the most persistent arguments against introducing seatbelts was the view that it was better to be thrown out of the cockpit in an impact than to be trapped within a flaming car.
Tireless work by the FIA and clothing manufacturers eventually produced a solution that's now so closely woven into the fabric of motor racing that you'd be forgiven for forgetting it's even there.
But make no mistake, a racing driver's suit, boots, underwear and gloves are designed to save lives, and the FIA documentation outlining the standards they have to meet (number 8856-2000 if you want to look it up) extends to a staggering 76 pages.
