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Sam Bird recently became the fifth Formula E driver to get a hand injury since the start of last year. What’s behind these spate of similar injuries?
Sam Bird’s hand injury in Monaco has sidelined him from the McLaren cockpit for at least three races, marking the fifth such injury among Formula E drivers in the past 16 months. This trend includes incidents involving Robin Frijns, Sebastien Buemi, Pascal Wehrlein, Nyck de Vries, and now Bird himself. These hand injuries are not uncommon in motorsport, with cases like Daniel Ricciardo’s hand breakage in Formula 1. The recurring pattern of hand injuries in Formula E raises concerns about driver safety and the need for preventive measures. Accidents in Formula E seem to result primarily from hand impacts against the monocoque or steering wheel, highlighting the limited clearance in the Gen3 car design. Although efforts have been made to improve cockpit protection, such measures are not mandatory and vary among teams based on individual preferences. Driver feedback, like Frijns advocating for enhanced safety measures, underlines the urgency of addressing these risks to ensure driver well-being on the track.
