dissertation

28 May

Written By Alice .

Advancement in Clothing Technology and Data Driven Design in Motorsport: Changing the Boundaries of Driver Safety.

Alice Harbin

BA Hons Fashion Design

January 2025

Word Count: 6597

‘Presented as part of the requirement for an award within the Undergraduate Modular Scheme at the University of Gloucestershire’

‘DECLARATION: This dissertation is the product of my own work. I agree that it may be made available for reference and photocopying at the discretion of the University.’

Alice Harbin

10/01/2025

Contents:

Introduction ………………………………………………………… VI

Chapter 1 ………………………………………………………… X

How has data impacted motorsport safety ……………………………..XI

How smart clothing and textile has impacted

motorsport safety ……………………………………………………….XII

Chapter 2 …………………………………………………….… XV

MotoGP rules and regulations for clothing technology………….……XVI

Technology used in MotoGP helmets ……………………..................XVII

Clothing technology used in MotoGP race suits ……………………...XVIII

Formula One rules and regulations for clothing technology.…….….XXI

Technology used in Formula One helmets ……………………..…….XII

Clothing technology used in Formula One race suits ………………..XXIII

Comparison ………………………………………………….……XXV

Chapter 3 ………………………………………………..….…XXVI

How has motorsport changed the design of modern technology ……XVII

How has motorsport influenced fashion …………………………….XIX

Conclusion …………………………………………….…..……XXXIII

Bibliography ………………………………………………..……XXXVII

Illustration Page:

Figure 1 – FiA Technical List of Homologated Helmets.

Figure 2 – Diagram of the Formula One Race suit.

Figure 3 – Vetements Spring Summer 2016 collection.

Figure 4 – Tommy Hilfiger / Mercedes Collaboration.

Figure 5 - Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc at the Gladiator 2 premier.

Figure 6 - Models for Ferrari jacket for sale from Vindays

Introduction:

This dissertation will be talking about how clothing technology and data has influenced the world of safety in motorsports and how motorsport has begun to impact the fashion and surrounding world.

Data is something that has been around for years, however it is now larger than ever. For example, a type of data that has been used a lot in motorsport is the lap times. These are constantly monitored so that they can compare how the drivers and racers are on different track and tyres. Data will help anyone who is involved in motorsport whether it be the mechanics, team principles (head of the teams) or even the medical teams. It is important for people to have quick access to this data because it helps them maintain the safety of all involved but also helps them progress when it comes to making their vehicles better.

Safety in the world of motorsport is such a massive thing and has improved leaps and bounds since it first began. Motorsport such as Formula One have had major accidents in the past resulting in many deaths. The only positive that has come from these accidents is that every time there is a large crash, they have evolved and found ways to make safety more important. One example is the Felipe Massa crash on the 25th July 2009, where as a result from this incident Felipe got hit in the head by some debris that flew off another car involved in the collision. The helmet that Felipe was wearing protected him, however, it could have done much more to help prevent the injuries that he did sustain. Therefore, following on from this example, this dissertation will provide a more in depth look at what new materials have been used to protect the drivers throughout all of motorsport.

As the world is evolving and technology is becoming more prevalent this means there are constantly new ways to help aid safety. Whether it be due to new materials being made or new technology has been developed. Over the past ten years, especially clothing, technology has come up to the surface. This has been incredibly important when it comes to racer and driver safety. In particular, by looking at what fabrics have been used throughout the racing suits worn by the drivers but also what has been used in the cars, such as seat belts. The impact on safety these materials have provided will be explored in depth by looking at the companies who make them and how they have become the way they are. For example, what makes carbon fibre so strong.

Motorsport is such a large subject area to look at because you have so many different sectors, such as Formula One, Rally, British Touring Cars Championship (BTCC) and MotoGP, just to name a few. Trying to fit in the comparison of clothing technology and other safety precautions that are involved within all areas of motor sport is a large task. Therefore, in this dissertation there will be a discussion of two parts, one of Formula One and the other MotoGP. For this discussion to be most useful, it has been decided that the two types of motorsport being analysed, in their use of clothing technology and their impact on fashion, are Formula One and MotoGP. This is because they use two different types of vehicles, which offers two differing viewpoints and areas. Even though, the cars will be different between Formula One and the BTCC, there will also be a drastic difference when it comes to the comparison of clothing, technology and fashion, as both sports go about these aspects in different ways. Therefore, an interesting comparison has been made, as items such as their race suits are made out of different fabrics because the two sports have different needs when it comes to being protected.

The breakthroughs that have happened in motorsport whether this be from their data or how they have changed the style of the car to make it quicker, have managed to influence everyday life. This dissertation plans to look into what changes have been made to modern day technology from the influence of motorsport.

Fashion design is something that has been influenced by many different factors, for example, Alexander McQueen took inspiration from the birds that he could see from his windows. Therefore, it would make sense that there are some fashion collections based off of motorsport because it has a very distinctive style.

Chapter 1: How has data, smart clothing and textiles impacted Motorsport safety.

There are lots of different forms of technology used in motorsport. For example, wind tunnel testing this is how they analyse the aerodynamics of the cars and how they can then improve. Each of these technologies help a range of different people, from the drivers to the mechanics, to the medical teams. Data and smart clothing have risen up the ranks massively in the past few years, only to gain even more traction in the coming years. In motorsport you need every bit of technology available to you, as this can help aid your team to keep everyone, particularly the drivers, safe and also help win you the race.

How data has impacted motorsport safety:

The technology involved in motorbike air bags is very clever as there are a few different components that make it work. The main one is the sensors which are programmed to monitor the riding conditions ready to pick up any unusual patterns that might result in a crash. When the system picks up that a crash might happen, it sets off the inflation mechanism which releases the gas, which then inflates the air bag. These sensors are very impressive because they do not just inflate at any time, as this would cause the riders focus to faulter which could result in a crash. The technology is remarkable in that it only picks up when there is imminent danger. These air bags cover the most vital areas on the body such as the chest, shoulders, neck and back. This is because even though the air bag cannot cover the entire body it can support the rider where they need it most (RST Moto, 2024).

All of the drivers in Formula One use F1 simulators (sims), this piece of technology is used to help the drivers understand the layout of the tracks all over the world. This is because there are only certain times that the driver is allowed to drive on the actual track. By using the sims, it feels like you are in a Formula One car as it moves to all the bumps in the tracks and when you go around corners. Inside the simulation it looks the same as the cockpit in a Formula One car this includes the pedals and the steering wheel. Using the simulation also helps the drivers when it comes to the layout of the track. When it comes down to the drivers driving the actual race, it is more muscle memory as they know where the turns and the best places to overtake are. In addition, the simulation also provides extensive data which helps the teams to analyse how the driver is driving, this feedback will in turn help them on actual race weekends. Mercedes, a top team in Formula One, have a state-of-the-art simulator called the Driver-in-Loop (DiL) in their headquarters in Brackley. This sim uses lidar-scanned 3D track maps and very detailed models of the car which means the driver will have the most realistic feel when in the sim (Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, 2023).

Furthermore, there are sensors and high-speed cameras that are on the car that help analyse all factors if the car were to get into a crash. They can use this information to see what happened and how they can make improvements and to prevent in the future. This also comes into play when they have to give out penalties for the drivers who are driving recklessly or not following the rules.

How smart clothing and textiles has impacted motorsport safety:

One of the leading areas of smart technology being integrated into motorsport is the biometric gloves that are used in Formula One. These gloves first came about in the 2018 season of Formula One. However, they had been in the works since Carlos Sainz crashed in 2015. In the 2018 season, the Federation international de l’Automobile (FiA) started to use biometric technology in gloves that the drivers wear. These gloves will send all the data from the driver over to the medical team and also to the driver’s team. This is important because it tells the teams the drivers pulse rate and blood oxygen levels which is vital information in case the drivers get into a crash and their communication (coms) go down. These gloves work by having a 3mm sensor embedded into the palm of the gloves which then relays the information back to the teams and medics. This is all done via industrial Bluetooth because it has a wider range than normal Bluetooth meaning its connections will be stronger around the track (Redbullracing.com, 2018). The FiA have worked very closely with the manufactures of these gloves: Sparco, Alpinestarts, PUMA, OMP, Stand 21 and Simpson, to integrate the sensors into the fire resistant material (Westwoodracingsupplies.com, 2024). These gloves were made by Alan van der Merwe who is the FiA Medical Car’s driver and Dr Ian Roberts who is the medical rescue coordinator. Together they created these biometric gloves and decided to set up their own company called Signal Biometrics (Redbullracing.com, 2018).

Another smart technology and textile that has impacted motorsport safety are seat belts. Seat belts have been analysed and improved greatly over the years of Formula One. In an article written by Red Bull in 2018 they have stated that “One of the nice things about having a long-term partnership is the ability to measure progress. The harness is one of the larger components on an F1 car and, like anything else, there’s a constant desire to reduce weight. Sabelt have constantly re-engineered the sturdy 1kg harness from 2005 so that it now weighs around 480g.” (Redbullracing.com, 2018). This is a very important safety feature because it protects the drivers if a crash or collision were to ever happen. They also need to be very strong to withstand the amount of g-force that the driver experiences when going around corners at such high speeds. Sabelt is the company that Red Bull have worked with for 16 seasons (as of this 2018 article) to manufacture their seat belts. The seat belts are constructed with a six-point harness so that they can offer the best protection rather than the typical 3-point seat belt that is used in road cars.

The seat belts are made to fit each driver, and this is done by having lots of brackets which can be moved around so that the driver can find the best position for them (Astonmartinf1.com, 2021). These seat belts are made from Kevlar® sewn straps and the buckles are made from titanium, this is so they can both withstand the amount force that the drivers put on them when they are pushing a lot of g-force. The driver does not have the space to fully tighten their seat belts when they are in the cockpit so that it up to the team’s mechanics to tighten for them.

In the cockpit of the car there is there is a thin composite shell which is filled with urethane foam. This foam is there to absorb the energy that occurs when the driver has crashed into something. The foam is very important as it is not like normal foam, because the absorption properties change considering the temperature. It is very important to check this, therefore the FiA have made sure that there is allocated time to check the temperature of the foam before each race. (Redbullracing.com, 2018). This is very important because races are held all over the world where the outside temperature differs drastically, thus effecting the foam.

Chapter 2: Comparison of protective clothing in MotoGP and Formula One.

MotoGP rules and regulations for clothing technology:

There are many different rules and regulations that are involved when it comes to MotoGP. These are in place to make sure the racers have the safest conditions possible and to make sure they all have an equal race.

The main rule that needs to be followed for safety reasons is the homologation regulations. In 2019 the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) came up with new regulations which say that all technical components to racing must undergo the homologation process. “In order to take account of a more complete and demanding evaluation of performance, and give specific and exclusive recognition to helmets that meet more demanding criteria, the FIM Technical and Circuit Racing Commissions have now launched a pioneering and unique programme, the FIM Racing Homologation Programme for helmets (FRHPhe), which features the latest state of art methods of testing.” (FIM,2019).

For something to be homologated it has to go through lots of testing to make sure it is safe. “FIM Racing Homologation – Confirmation issued by the FIM as an official specification of performance for products related to safety and required for competitions.” (FIM,2019).

Technology used in MotoGP Helmets:

Helmets are made to absorb the impact if someone falls off their bike. These are probably some of the most important parts of safety equipment that the MotoGP riders will have. MotoGP helmets need to be made from stronger materials because of the speed in which the racers drive, rather than the helmets you would use on a bike ride around the village. The high speed will create a more forceful impact to the driver when a crash occurs, therefore the helmet needs to be made of strong material to protect the driver from injury.

There are a few different materials which are used in these helmets, one of them being Kevlar®. Kevlar® is made by the company DuPont and they own all rights to this material. Kevlar® is made in a very specific way which is what makes it so strong. “The chemical structure of Kevlar® is comprised of several repeating inter-chain bonds. These chains are cross-linked with hydrogen bonds, providing a tensile strength can be up to 10X stronger than steel* on an equal weight basis.” (Dupont, 2023). One of the reasons that Kevlar® is used in motorsports is for its heat-resistant properties, this is because it starts to decompose at around 450 degrees Celsius. This is very important when you are racing as if you were to crash the bike could go up in flames and you need to be protected. Kevlar® is also unaffected by moisture meaning it would not be damaged when out in the elements. This is a very critical component considering all the races are outside on the racetracks, therefore vulnerable to the elements. If you used a material that was not compatible to the elements you would end up changing or amending them all the time which is not time or cost affective. However, comparable to its many excellent qualities, Kevlar® does not have the best compression strength meaning that it is susceptible to squishing (Dupont, 2023).

The other main material used in the MotoGP helmets is carbon fibre, due to its high strength qualities. The reason carbon fibre is so strong is because the molecules are in chainlike bonds. Carbon fibre is from organic polymers which are long molecules held together by the carbon atoms. Carbon Fibre comes in many different forms such as twill, satin, plain and unidirectional. These forms give the fibre different properties (Carbon Fiber Gear, 2020).

Clothing technology used in MotoGP Race Suits:

The clothing that is used in MotoGP is some of the most important. This is because they do not have a structure surrounding them unlike in Formula One. There are many different components that come into play when keeping the racers safe through their clothing.

One of the first factors is that they have their suits tailored to them. This means it is made specifically for them giving the best fit and protection possible. MotoGP decided to have tailored suits because if the rider was to crash, they would have the best protection that they can possibly get. They are constantly measuring the riders to make sure the suits still perform well and to change if necessary.

Race suits are typically made out of leather and this has been used in MotoGP since the 1950’s. Alpinestar, a company who fits the RedBull MotoGP racers, have said that they use mainly cow leather, however they sometimes use kangaroo leather as well. “Bovine is used mostly though because it is very wear resistant, and its usually between 1.2 and 1.4 millimetres thick.” (Appleton, 2016). Bovine leather is anything that refers to cattle this includes cows, bulls and steers.

There are many different areas on the race suit that need to have movement which solid leather would not provide. These areas are the elbows, knees and shoulders. In these areas they have panels which help provide the flexibility “The special protection around the knees, elbows and shoulders is made from specially formulated thermo plastic.” (Appleton, 2016). The reason for these panels is to spread out the energy on the event of impact, this is one of the reasons they are made out of separate materials. All of these panels have double stitching on them to make sure they are fully protected on all layers. This is because even if some of the stitches were to snap, they are still stitched securely in place.

On the elbows of the race suits they have elbow sliders, these are there to aid the riders when going around corners. It gives them extra support to help keep them on the bike. Some of these elbow sliders are made from metal, however, if they are there are certain rules they must follow. Such as, you are not allowed to create sparks, smoke or leave debris on the track. This is to protect the other racers behind them, as smoke may affect visibility, and debris may cause the bikes to crash. Adding the metal into the elbow sliders is a personal choice for the racers as it is not a necessity (Holding. J, No Date).

During the race you can get very hot, therefore there are many ventilation panels in the race suit. The vents allow the air to flow through the front and out of the back, which cools the rider down. This aspect also helps with the drag resistant when racing (Holding. J, No Date).

In the race suits they have utilised all the space that they have. For example, the humps on the back of the suits are used to help with drag and improve air flow through the aerodynamics. However, they also protect the racer if they were to fall off and land on their back. The designers have decided to utilise the space that they have by putting the racers water tanks (drinking water), cooling system and the electronics in the hump to make them the most space efficient as possible (Holding. J, No Date).

Another aspect to clothing technology, is on the inside of the racers leg they have a grippy silicone panel which is there to give the racers extra grip, especially when they are going around corners. This is because when the riders go around corners, they can be almost parallel to the ground. Therefore, by giving them more grip it also gives them more control which helps prevent crashes or falling off.

One of the main safety features that is in the race suit is the built-in air bags. In the past air bags had cords which were attached to the bike. Therefore, when the cord broke it triggered the air bag. This was good for its time; however, it was not very quick to inflate. These new built-in air bags, which are situated in the suits, are set up with gas canisters which can fully inflate within 25 milliseconds. This is a great improvement compared to their previous version. The air bags are made with accelerometers, gyroscopes and GPS and the air bag is activated when the sensors detect a collision or fall is about to happen. The technology behind this engineering is very complex as it takes a great deal of expertise to stop the air bags inflating prematurely. Therefore, these new air bags are a great feat for the sport (RST Moto, 2024).

Formula One rules and regulations for clothing technology:

There are many specific rules and regulations that are set in place to make sure the drivers have the best and safest equipment possible. These regulations are there to make sure all the teams abide by the same rules, and no one is at a disadvantage. When it comes to any motorsports, regulators (such as the FiA) will always put the driver’s safety first (FiA, 2024).

The Homologation regulations on the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FiA) website tell you what you need to know when it comes to introducing new materials into Formula One. They have all the documents ready on the FiA website for you to review and they are updated regularly (See figure 1). These documents state when the item for example, helmets, have been homologated and when it runs out. The end date shows when the product can be made until (Technical List number 107 – Premium Helmets homologated according to FIA Standard 8859-2024, Published on 17/12/24)

Figure 1 FiA Technical List of Homologated Helmets.

As mentioned at the beginning of Chapter 2 ‘MotoGP rules and regulations for clothing technology’ it was explained what makes a product homologated and this is the same in Formula One, however it is the FiA who confirm it has been through all the safety checks.

Technology used in Formula One Helmets:

Helmets have evolved massively over the years in Formula one. When it first started, they just used to use cloth caps. However, they now have full faced helmets that are fully protective.

The helmets are very similar to ones used in MotoGP; they are made from a carbon fibre outer shell. Underneath the helmet they have a fireproof lining which is made from Nomex® and a foam liner. This follows the regulations set by the FiA which is regulation 8860-2018. There was a massive crash in 2009 at the Brazilian GP between Felipe Massa (Massa) and Reuben Barrichello (Barrichello) in which a spring came off Barrichello’s car and hit Massa’s helmet. This resulted in Massa having a broken skull and being in a coma for three days (Brazil, 2024). As a result of this accident, in 2011 they added a Zylon® strip to the top of all drivers’ helmets, improving the security. Zylon® is a very strong synthetic polymer which is considered stronger than Kevlar. “Zylon® boasts a tensile strength that is 1.6 times stronger than Kevlar®” (International, 2020)

Clothing technology in Formula One Race Suits:

Formula One race suits are one of the most important barriers protecting them when they are driving. On the surface they might not look that important however, they have a large and crucial part to play in their safety.

Similarly, to the MotoGP race suits they are custom fitted to the driver. This makes sure that the suit is tight in all the right places and fully protects each driver. The main areas that need to be tight fitting are wrists, ankles and neck. Having the suit fitted in these important areas will protect them further in case there is ever a fire.

The race suits are made from a few different layers and materials. First you have the underwear which is composed of a single layer Nomex®, long sleeved top, single layered Nomex® long leggings and then Nomex® single layer socks. You also then have a hood and gloves which makes sure the entire body is covered and protected (See figure 2). Even though these are all separate pieces they overlap to make sure no skin is exposed.

Figure 2 Diagram of Formula One Race Suit

Nomex® plays a very important part in the safety of the drivers, this is because Nomex® is a fire-resistant material. It is made by the same company who makes Kevlar®, Du Pont. Nomex is a synthetic material which is made from a long chain of aromatic polyamide molecules. “Nomex® fibres cannot be washed out or warn away” (Dupont, 2024). This is important because it needs to be a reliable material rather than something that will fade overtime. Nomex® can withstand temperatures from 600 degrees to 1000 degrees this is why it is so ideal for the Formula One drivers race suits.

In recent years the FiA have been looking into the safety of the driver’s gloves, this was sparked into action after Roman Grosjean crashed in Bahrain in 2020. Grosjean incurred burns to his hands after his car crashed and burst into flames. Glove safety and improvement had already been a focus to the FiA in prior years, as they looked to thicken the glove material. However, they need to take into account how much the drivers use their hand in the cockpit, and this would be hard with thicker gloves as it could negatively restrict their movement. Since the Grosjean crash the FiA have found it important to search for an answer to this issue (Mitchell-Malm, 2021).

The FiA had a few drivers trialling these new gloves during free practice one (FP1) in Istanbul. This is the perfect time because during FP1 nothing about the driver’s times is taken into account for the race. Therefore, this makes it a good time to test new products. This practice only produces information for the teams and drivers to see how well the car is doing on the track and with the different conditions that each race brings (Mitchell-Malm, 2021).

Comparison:

The Formula One race suits are very different to the MotoGP ones, this is because they have to protect the body in many different ways. The comparison between the two is a hard one to make because even though they are both in the world of motorsport they are using two different vehicles which have different safety needs.

The race suit for MotoGP has more safety features, and this is because the racers are out in the open rather than the Formula One drivers who have the extra protection of the car. By having the extra protection of the car, the main concern that they need to worry about is fire. This can be caused if the car crashes or if there was a mechanical failure and the car caught fire. That is why Formula One have to make sure the drivers have tight fitting clothes that cover their entire body. These clothes are made out of fire-resistant material which means they will be protected for a certain amount of time if they were to crash and cause a fire. Whereas, in MotoGP their race suits are made from leather because the most harm to them will be falling off their bikes. The force in which they do this means they are skidding on the tarmac so they would need a strong and thick material to protect their skin.

Chapter 3: The way motorsport has influenced design in other industries.

How has motorsports changed the design of modern technology:

Motorsport has influenced many designs in modern technology, the first one being the modern day road car. The technology used in motorsport to make the cars more fuel efficient and aerodynamic has influenced the modern day road car. Many of the new cars and automobile industry have taken the fuel injection systems from the Formula One cars to use them for themselves (Oro Station, 2023). The main aim of Formula One is to have the fastest car on the grid (all the drivers in the season who are on the track). One of the ways this is possible is through aerodynamics and the techniques used to improve the aerodynamics. This is something that the engineers work on for years and will continue working on throughout the season. The big contributors to this are the shape of the car and how the air moves around it. This has been acknowledged by the road car manufacturers who have imputed these Formula One aerodynamic designs into their own cars.

Carbon fibre has been around for a while, however one of its main uses has always been in motorsport. The cars have been made out of this material for its lightweight and strong properties. Since its use in motorsport, which began in 1981, where it made its debut with the McLaren MP4/1 in Formula One it has become an integral part to motorsport (pirancomposite, 2024). Road car manufactures have taken this material and used it in their designs because it makes the car lighter which in return makes the car more fuel efficient (Plumb, 2022).

The anti-lock braking system (ABS) which is in the majority of road cars originally came from racing cars. This technology means that cars could have better control when going from high speeds to then slowing drastically for corners (Sponsored, 2024).

On a different note, Motorsports have not just influenced cars, they have also changed the ways Sainsbury’s refrigerators run. This is from the start up Aerofoil Energy, used by Motorsports, which has helped improve the efficiency of refrigerated displays. This is important because “Sainsburys operates 1,100 UK stores require considerable energy to operate, with open refrigerated displays accounting for a vast proportion of the total cost.” (Plumb, 2022). Areofoil’s technology has helped the cars grip to the track easier by generating lots of downforce. It is also used in Formula One to help channel the air to help reduce heat and improve cooling. This same technology is what is used in the Sainsbury’s refrigerated displays. They have found a way to change the way the air flows by bringing it back into the refrigerators. This has reduced the amount of energy being consumed throughout the stores and this was put into place in 2020. (Plumb, 2022)

In addition, public transport is something that has been changed and influenced from Formula One data telemetry tools. Through the use of 5G infrastructure they have been able to create connected rail, road and underground connections and this has helped everything run smoothly and improved the way public transport is run. (Plumb, 2022).

How has motorsport influenced fashion:

There have been many occasions where fashion has been influenced by motorsport, whether this be a small detail by using a motorsports brand logo, or even partnering with a motorsport brand. This influence has become very popular over the last few years. Designers like to take inspiration from many aspects in there surrounding. There are lots of unique shapes and materials used throughout motorsport, so it is no surprise that fashion designers want to include parts of motorsport into their collections.

Vetements did a whole collection where they had taken inspiration from the MotoGP race suits and this was their spring Summer 2016 collection. In the collection there were key components, such as the jackets and trousers which were made from leather and had the knee panelling which was taken from race suits (see figure 3).

Not everything in that collection was taken directly from MotoGP, however the few elements that were influenced were very clear and you could spot them instantly. This collection gives you the feel that you are wearing and looking at the real race suits. This leather race suit design has been a strong trend in recent years with everyone wanting to have the biker look. This trend has not just been for the high-end designers, it has trickled down into the high street brands as well.

Furthermore, there are some of the well-known brands such as Tommy Hilfiger who have made a partnership with one of the Formula One teams (Mercedes). This collaboration is one that Mercedes have promoted a great deal over social media platforms. This collaboration has also included their drivers (Lewis Hamilton and George Russel 2024) taking part in modelling for the brand. The clothing that has been designed is still in Hilfiger colours and style it just has links to Mercedes such as their logo and branding (See figure 4). This collaboration does not have much to do with the driving aspect of the sport, however it is more a show of force with Mercedes. It is also about the influence of the Mercedes brand and the strong impact Formula One is having on today’s culture.

Figure 4 Tommy Hilfiger / Mercedes Collaboration

This type of collaboration works well for both parties because there may be some Mercedes fan who have never heard of Tommy Hilfiger who will now buy these products because of the link to Mercedes. Vice versa, there will be Tommy Hilfiger fans who have never been interested in the world of Formula One but might now watch it to see what it is about. This is the positive impact that collaborations can bring to companies’ markets and followings.

Another way motorsport has influenced fashion is where some brands, such as Ferrari, who are a worldwide known company, have their own clothing brand. Ferrari own Ferrari Style and this brand is very simple and has an elegance to their products that emphasise what Ferrari is. If you were to look at these clothes you might not even see the link and not realise that it belongs to Ferrari. Ferrari Style is a very versatile brand, and they cover menswear and womenswear which include a plus size range. When their drivers (Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz 2024) go to events, such as premiers, they will be seen wearing Ferrari Styles Tuxedos (See figure 5)

Figure 5 Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc at the Gladiator 2 Premier.

This is an excellent way Ferrari promote their own brand but also show off the drivers at the same time. The drivers will go to a great deal of events throughout the year, such as sponsorship galas, these are for promotion and press reasons such as film premiers.

Some of the recent trends in today’s fashion have been to wear motorsport merchandise such as the Ferrari and Red Bull jackets (see figure 6). This has been seen greatly in social media platforms with large media stars wearing them.

Figure 6 Models for Ferrari Jacket for Sale From Vindays

These jackets did bring a large group of people over to the motorsport community however it was met with some criticism when fans who had been watching for years began saying that these new fans did not really belong. This situation was also not helped due to the Netflix docuseries about Formula One (Drive To Survive) where it showed fans saying similar statements. (Srinivasan, 2024).

Conclusion:

There is such a great deal of modern technology in the world today and it is being used to protect people in many ways. However, it is not discussed or publicised to the wider public how much safety and technology is an integral aspect in motorsport. Therefore, throughout this dissertation there has been an in-depth analysis of what it takes to keep the drivers and riders safe in these sports and a massive part of this is data and clothing.

Data has been used in amazing ways to keep the drivers and riders safe. Even things as small as the Formula One drivers using simulations to practice going around the track. This piece of technology means that the driver can practice and begin to memorise the tracks, which will greatly improve their skills and chances of winning a race. The use of the simulations helps the drivers because they will be familiar with each track in between the periods they are not physically allowed to drive the tracks. Therefore, something as simple as a video game (albeit a complex and expensive video game) is helping keep the drivers safe.

Data will always be available to keep everyone safe and will always be challenged to become better. A really good example of this, is the biometric gloves made by Alan van de Merwe and Dr Ian Roberts. These gloves came about because two people from the mechanical team wanted to challenge the data that they already had and push it further. These gloves have made such an impact without the individuals being well known. For the medical team to have direct access to the driver (through the technology within the gloves) is something that previously had never been possible until the driver was out of the car. However, now it is not only possible, but it is beyond important and potentially lifesaving.

From looking at how data and motorsport has influenced the modern world it has popped up in the most unexpected places, such as the Sainsbury’s refrigerators. This is a piece of information not very well known but it has saved lots of money and energy for Sainsburys. The company Aerofoil Energy who designed the technology began their journey in Formula One but have ended up in a supermarket. Therefore, who knows where their technology will be taking them next.

The clothing used in these motorsports is a key part in keeping everyone safe and is made out of the best materials in this industry. These excellent materials and well thought out design are all because they need to keep the drivers and riders safe. DuPont makes quite a few of the materials which are used in the race suits, such as Kevlar® and Nomex®. Both of these materials are incredible strong and withstand many aspects such as fire and high g-force. Nomex® is used in the Formula One race suits and is made to be fire resistant and can withstand temperatures of up to 1000 degrees. This is a very important factor to keeping the driver safe, as combustions can occur in Formula One. All of this new clothing technology has greatly impacted motorsport and made it safer for driver. Therefore, if an unfortunate instance occurs and they crash or collide they are protected as much technology at this time allows. Clothing technology has improved dramatically in the last decade, therefore safety and design will only improve in the years to come.

Fashion has taken influence from everywhere your mind can wonder to; therefore, it makes sense that motorsport was one of those influences. All motorsport has a very distinctive style nothing else can really compare. For example, the clothing is covered in logos which some brands have really taken a liking to. This has been trending over the past few years in fashion, specifically jackets. Lots of companies make their own versions of these jackets to sell, however not all of these companies are official merchandise. Even though the clothing is not official it still gives the Formula One teams publicity and increases their fan bases.

Overall, this dissertation has shown how data and clothing technology has massively impacted not only the world of motorsport but also the world around us. Keeping the drivers and mechanics safe thought the use of their race suits and rigorous regulations. This is something that will hopefully evolve more with how quickly technology is changing.

Ultimately, the merging of clothing technology and real-time data not only enhances driver protection but also sets the bar for how innovation can be put into place without changing the adrenalin rush that is motorsport.

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Alice .