Formula 1 continues to evolve, and apart from all the controversy surrounding the FIA, its rules, and its stewards and race directors not following them, the technological aspect and the continued improvement of several spectacular areas provide the fans with incredible content.
One of those improvements is the idea of putting cameras on drivers’ helmets (in the interior padding) and giving the fans the chance to witness the circuits just like the drivers see them while racing.
Introduction to F1 Helmet Cameras
The first F1 helmet-mounted camera as we know it today was worn by Fernando Alonso in the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, while the two-time champion was driving his Alpine around the longest circuit in the current Formula 1 calendar.
In the following event, the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, it was George Russell (driving for Williams) who had the ‘drivers’ eye’ camera mounted on his head safety device and even showed us what a Grand Prix start looked like, as he was wearing the camera during the Sprint event of that weekend.
However, before Alonso and Russell in 2021 and the several drivers who have had helmet-mounted cameras in 2022, it was Mark Blundell who actually started the trend back in the 1994 Belgian Grand Prix, as he wore a helmet-mounted camera.
The current camera is 2.5-gram and is inserted into the interior padding of the helmet, and it is developed by Racing Force, a company that also owns the famous F1 helmet brand Bell.
How Helmet Cameras Work in Formula 1
Racing Force defines the F1 helmet cam with the following concept:
“The Driver’s Eye is the FIA-homologated micro camera (8 millimeters in diameter and weighing 2.5 grams) positioned at eye-level on the protective padding on the inside of the driver’s helmet.”
Last year, the company announced that all drivers who wear Bell helmets in 2022 had the option to equip the F1 helmet cam. The camera is called Driver’s Eye because it is positioned at eye level inside the helmet.
“The technology will be available over the course of the 2022 season to all drivers on the Formula 1 grid who wear a Bell Helmet”, read a statement from the company at the end of the 2021 campaign.
Advancements in Helmet Cam Technology for 2024
For 2023, up to eight drivers per weekend had the F1 helmet cam mounted on their helmets throughout the sessions of the Grand Prix weekend.
The limitations came from the amount of cameras that could be streamed to the world feed while they were attached to the car. Onboard cameras and rear-view cameras are usually the priority, but the helmet cam has been receiving lots of praise in recent races.
Impact on the Viewing Experience
Seeing a Formula 1 circuit from the perspective of the drivers’ eyes it’s truly a special thing for F1 fans. With more than 20 circuits per season and with such different layouts throughout the season, the experience varies and there are tracks that offer a lot more than others.
Spa-Francorchamps, for example, has arguably the most famous corner in the racing world, Eau Rouge. The elevation change while the F1 cars climb Eau Rouge is truly amazing to witness from the F1 helmet cam, while night races provide a whole different perspective.
Where to Watch F1 Helmet Cam Footage
While the TV services that provide live Formula 1 racing footage will show the F1 helmet cam throughout the programming, you can also use streaming apps to check further angles, such as onboard views throughout sessions.
F1 TV might be the best option to follow the 2024 F1 World Championship season. F1’s official website provided an explanation of how the app will work in 2024 and what it will offer to those who subscribe to the service.
“There are two subscriptions available. F1 TV Pro*, a premium ad-free service that includes live feeds of every session – Practice, Qualifying, F1 Sprint and Grands Prix – with driver onboard cameras, team radio, in-depth data and exclusive behind the scenes content. Alternatively, F1 TV Access provides a simplified offering with live race timing data and replays.”
Conclusion
The enhancements made to the F1 helmet cam since its introduction (as we currently know it) in 2021 have been solid and progressive.
Still, there might be plenty of more options to enhance the quality of the Drivers’ Eye during Formula 1 races.
Moreover, there might be a rival to the F1 helmet cam in 2024, as the gyro-cam, which provides “tilt and banking for all corners” is becoming increasingly popular among racing fans.
While the F1 helmet cam is providing us with the drivers’ perspective of the circuit, the onboard gyro-cam seems to be going a bit further, providing Formula 1 fans with a more genuine sense of the speed of the current F1 cars.
Dean Locke, F1’s director of broadcast and media, explained why the use of the F1 helmet cam isn’t as extensive as some fans would like during sessions:
“Helmet camera is brilliant and gives us a brilliant view of it. But is it the view you want to watch the whole race?
It ends up reducing our resources. So, we’re better off switching.
We have 20 available and we will be running 6+, we’ll probably get to about eight or so”, he told The Race.
