Hairpin A tight, low-gear, 180-degree bend. The most famous are the former Loews hairpin in Monaco, which is now known as the Grand Hotel hairpin, and "La Source" at Spa-Francorchamps. Half Black, Half White Flag  Accompanied by a car number, it warns of unsporting behaviour. May be followed by a black flag if the driver does not heed the warning.Handling The relative ability of a vehicle to negotiate curves and respond to road conditions. It is a factor of the weight of the vehicle, the suspension, tyres, air flow, etc. Head and Neck Support (HANS) Since the 2003 season, the drivers have been given additional head and neck protection in the form of the Head and Neck Support system. HANS consists of a carbon shoulder piece that is connected to both the safety belts and the driver's helmet. In an accident, HANS is intended to prevent stretching of the vertebrae as well as preventing the driver's head from hitting the steering wheel. Head support Removable padding on the inside of the cockpit around the driver’s head and designed to absorb any potential impact. The two side pads must be at least 95 mm thick, and a thickness of between 75 and 90 mm is stipulated for the rear pad. Heat Cycle A tyre that has been heated up through use and then cooled down has experienced one heat cycle. This often results in a slight hardening of the tyre compound, which can make the tyre perform at a high level for a longer period of time. See Scrubbed Tyres. Helmet The helmet is made of carbon, polyethylene and Kevlar and weighs approximately 1.3 kilogrammes. Like the cars, it is designed in a wind tunnel to reduce drag as much as possible. Helmets are subjected to extreme deformation and fragmentation tests. Only helmets tested and authorised by the FIA may be used in races.  |