Officials and safety

Race control, marshals, the medical team and the people who keep a race running safely.

• Race control and the race directorRace control runs every F1 session from a room at the circuit. The race director decides on flags, safety cars and red flags, while the stewards decide penalties.
• MarshalsMarshals are the trained volunteers who wave the flags, clear crashed cars, fight fires and keep the circuit safe at every F1 race.
• The medical car and medical centreHow F1's medical services work, from the medical car that follows the first lap to extraction teams, the circuit medical centre and the helicopter.
• Circuit safetyHow F1 circuits are made safe, from the FIA Grade 1 licence to run-off areas, gravel traps, TecPro barriers and debris fencing.
• Driver safety gearWhat an F1 driver wears to stay safe, from the helmet and HANS device to fireproof clothing, biometric gloves and the cooling vest used in hot races.