The camera in the helmet will become widespread in 2022

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Since the Belgian Grand Prix, Formula 1 has been testing a new mini-camera positioned behind the visor of the driver's helmet. Tested for the first time by Fernando Alonso at Spa-Francorchamps, it was used several times in the second half of the season. This weekend in Abu Dhabi, it was notably Alonso and Charles Leclerc who tried it.

These new images have been much appreciated by fans, and F1 wanting to offer a better perspective of what pilots experience in the cockpit, it has reached a provisional agreement to generalize this camera next year.

F1's current partners are helmet manufacturer Bell and its parent company Racing Force Group, which has now signed a formal agreement with the F1 commercial rights holder regarding the use of the camera in 2022. a short press release, RFG let it be known that this agreement will make the camera available to drivers using Bell helmets during all races next season.

"The Driver's Eye is the FIA-approved micro-camera (8 millimeters in diameter and 2.5 grams) positioned at eye level on the padding inside the driver's helmet," the statement read. "This technology will be available throughout the 2022 season for all drivers on the Formula 1 grid wearing a Bell helmet."

This year, the pilots trusting Bell are eleven in number, namely Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Räikkönen, Fernando Alonso, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Esteban Ocon, George Russell, Pierre Gasly, Antonio Giovinazzi, Nicholas Latifi and Nikita Mazepin.

Formula 1 has yet to decide how widespread the use of the camera will be; it will depend on the will of the teams to accept this technology and this additional weight, even if the latter is minimal on a single-seater which weighs nearly 790 kg.

The camera is currently only homologated by the FIA ​​for Bell helmets and cannot be used by other manufacturers on Grand Prix weekends without passing mandatory safety tests.