Crash Test

A crash test in motorsport is a controlled collision experiment that evaluates how well a vehicle protects drivers during accidents.

These tests involve launching cars or components into barriers at specific speeds and angles to measure structural integrity and safety performance. Formula 1 and other racing series require vehicles to pass rigorous crash tests supervised by governing bodies like the FIA before they're allowed to compete.

Modern crash tests examine frontal, side, and rear impacts, along with roll-over scenarios. The data collected helps engineers develop safer vehicles and safety innovations like the HALO device, energy-absorbing barriers, and improved survival cells that have saved numerous drivers' lives in high-speed accidents.