Engineering Safety: The Invisible Race Behind the Race

When Gabriel Bortoleto’s car slammed into the barriers during Saturday’s Sprint in São Paulo, it was a sharp reminder of just how quickly things can go wrong in Formula 1. Moments later, the Brazilian rookie climbed from the wreckage unaided, a striking example of how far Formula 1 has come in its pursuit of safety. 

Modern F1 cars can withstand forces that would have been unthinkable a few decades ago. Behind every incident on the track lies an invisible race, a relentless engineering contest fought not for speed, but for safety. It’s the race no one sees, yet every driver’s life depends on it. 

That progress didn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of tireless research, thousands of crash tests and the influence of engineers like Peter Wright, who sadly passed away last week aged 79. Known as one of motorsport’s great innovators, Wright played a defining role in reshaping the safety standards that underpin the sport today. From pioneering work on ground-effect aerodynamics to developing the HANS device, cockpit safety foam, and ultimately contributing to the halo, his vision transformed how Formula 1 approaches danger. 

Wright worked alongside Professor Sid Watkins in FIA safety initiatives and, as a technical adviser, helped shape the frameworks that underpin modern motorsport safety research. Their work on impact barriers, car construction and data-led risk modelling now extends far beyond Formula 1, influencing how road cars are designed, how racetracks are built, and even how rescue operations are coordinated. 

For teams and engineers, safety has evolved into a performance parameter in its own right. Simulation, data modelling and predictive engineering - once tools for gaining speed - are now also used to minimise risk.  

In the same way, businesses are learning that investing in safety isn’t just about protection. It’s also about building reliable systems, reducing risk exposure and preparing teams to perform under pressure. 

Formula 1 will never be without risk, that’s part of its DNA, but every time a driver walks away from an accident, it’s a testament to decades of learning, loss and innovation. Behind the spectacle, there’s another race always being run: the invisible race for safety - one that’s saving lives both on and off the track. 

At Performance Insights, several of our experts have been at the forefront of this revolution - developing advanced simulation tools and data-driven models that allow teams to test thousands of crash and performance scenarios virtually before a car ever touches the track. Their work exemplifies how the pursuit of performance and the pursuit of safety are not opposites, but partners in progress.