The Toto Wolff face shield has been in the news ever since the start of the F1 season, but it has now been banned by the FIA.
With the F1 2020 season in full swing amidst the pandemic, the safety of personnel is of paramount importance to the FIA.
They have issued guidelines and safety protocols to be followed by all the teams. Regular testing is also being done, with no ‘positive’ news so far.
For the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, strict warnings have been given to drivers who flout the safety norms. As per the laws of the land, a non-EU driver may even have to serve jail time for any violations. FIA and F1 bosses Jean Todt and Chase Carey are in touch with the Hungarian authorities looking for an exemption for this week.
Apart from this, the teams are also doing their bit to increase safety awareness in these testing times. Ferrari, Renault, Williams, McLaren and Mercedes are some of the teams selling customized F1 face masks.
Toto Wolff face shield banned, will switch to facemasks
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff will also switch to the regular face masks after FIA banned his clear face shield. The Mercedes boss has been seen sporting a clear face shield on race weekend up, until now. However, like everyone else on the grid, he too will have to shift to a face mask from hereon.
“My face shield was not well received by the FIA. It did not meet the requirements.”
“That is why I have returned to the masks that everyone else is wearing.”
Wolff acknowledged the fact that the FIA is doing everything they can in order to prevent any spread of coronavirus amongst the people involved in the F1 season.
He confirmed that the face shield helped him see better, but he will switch to the facemask, now that the directive has been issued by the FIA.
“I think you have to take it seriously, and I always have. I thought the shield was a good option as you can see a lot better with it.”
“But the rules are the rules and I am happy that we can even race. If I had to wear Pampers (diapers) on my nose, I would do that. Whatever it takes.”
