It’s the pits: the inside track on the Force India crew suits

Working on an F1 car that’s loaded with fuel and running at temperatures of nearly boiling point is a high-risk job that needs the right equipment. But it’s not just the drivers who need special protection at the race tracks, it’s also the crews working in the garage.

Each member of the 26 man Force India pit crew will wear specially-made overalls made to the same specification as drivers Giancarlo Fisichella, Adrian Sutil and Tonio Liuzzi. Supplied by high-tech technical apparel specialist and Force India clothing partner, Alpinestars, the same expertise is applied to each of the crew’s suits.

Every one of the crew will wear a nomex fireproof one-piece overall during qualifying and the race – basically whenever the fuel rigs are used. This needs to be every bit as flexible and durable as the drivers’ suits as each person will need full mobility to work on the cars on the grid in preparation for the race and in the pit stops.

Underneath the overalls everyone will wear nomex underwear of a long-sleeved t-shirt and long-john type trousers, as it’s crucial that the crew is well protected during the stops as – however rare and unlikely – fires are a risk.

Although the crew suits are not made to measure for each crew member, the design of the suit is tailored to the team’s particular usage. Each suit will have belt hooks at the back to fix the radios the crew listen to during a race. There are also lapels on the shoulders to attach the wires from the radios that connect to ear pieces worn under the helmets. Each ear piece (similar to the ones worn by singers) is moulded to the shape of the individual’s ear using a specially developed resin for greater comfort during the race.

Eagle-eyed viewers might also have noticed that the crew wear balaclavas under their helmets. Each member will choose the balaclava they would like to wear, whether a standard ‘one hole’ type hood, or with two eyes and a nose protector. It’s very much personal choice which type they wear – but wearing it is essential. Boots and gloves are also mandatory.

Some members of the crew will have different ‘add-ons’ to the standard kit to provide added protection. The rear jack man and lollipop man will wear a double thickness balaclava, while the four men using the wheel guns will have knee pads as they kneel on the floor to change the wheels during the stops.

Everyone, except the rear jack man and lollipop man, will wear a specially made helmet. The lollipop man (otherwise known as chief mechanic, Andy Deeming) must wear full head phones and a microphone to talk to the crews during the stop, which would be difficult with a helmet. The rear jack man (or Richie Wrenn, number one mechanic to Fisichella) on the other hand is in the full brunt of the fumes and the heat from the rear of the car, which would quickly fill his helmet or mask his vision.

All the other mechanics however will wear the helmets. The cars might be limited to 60kph in the pitlane now, but the narrow width and the short length means cars will turn in to their slots at the very last second. And 60kph in such a confined space will seem exceptionally fast – as anyone who’s stood at the side of a very narrow country lane can confirm!

It’s undoubtedly a dangerous job but 99% of the stops will go to plan. If not, the clothing and protection is there for a very good reason.