Rain-proof visors for F1 drivers

Darius Chang | Aug 28, 2008

Besides slippery roads, one of the greatest dangers when riding a motorcycle in the rain is that water spray severely compromises vision. With both hands needed at the controls, the best one can hope for is to ride slowly to the nearest shelter while hoping you can get there in one piece.

For F1 drivers, stopping at the track shoulder for a smoke while waiting for the heavens to lighten up is hardly an option. The recent July 6 Grand Prix race in SilverStone, Great Britain, demonstrated just how important good vision is for fast-paced races. While the other drivers were almost blinded by the downpour and desperately wiping their helmets with a free hand, Nick Heidfeld, behind the wheel of a BMW Sauber, cruised from fifth place to first runner-up, thanks to his rain-proof visor. In case you have a mental image of tiny wind-shield wipers on the helmet, the technology is, thankfully, much less cartoony than that.

Developed by Schuberth, its special visors are made from polycarbonate with a transparent anti-fog coating that heats up automatically during cold or humid conditions. After that July 6 race, more than a few drivers will be sporting the new high-tech visor for future competitions. Considering the wet weather Singapore has been having, this may help prevent more than a few accidents should the weather be unkind during the upcoming night race come September.

Via F1Technical

Filed under: Gadgets
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