The German driver stepped out of his Aston Martin after the Austrian Grand Prix with his face smeared with black carbon dust thrown up by the brake discs throughout the race at the Red Bull Ring .
Sebastian Vettel believes that a change in the brake duct regulations for this year has caused an excess of this material to be directed towards the cockpit.
For the 2022 season , Formula 1 rules state that the airflow must be exhausted directly to the rear, instead of being directed through the wheels, which seems to cause the issue the veteran driver is complaining about.
He wants the FIA to study the phenomenon and find a way to improve things, as he believes there are simple solutions that could be put into practice.
“To be honest, it’s something they have to work on because this year’s brake duct design, along with the front axle, is blowing all the brake dust into our faces and it’s not good,” he explained. to Sky.
“Breathing carbon dust is something that is not exactly healthy. I hope the FIA investigates this very soon, because it doesn’t make any sense and it’s an easy thing to change.”
It has been learned that these comments by Vettel are the first that have come to the FIA in relation to a potential problem with the dust expelled by the brakes, but the governing body is always willing to listen to the concerns of the pilots and, in If necessary, create a solution.
Detail of the front brakes of the Aston Martin AMR22
However, Vettel’s complaints about brake dust are not the first mentions of this problem, as, in the recent history of the series, the topic only came up in 2019.
Then-Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas revealed that he often sneezed black dust after races because he breathed in those fine particles from the brakes during races.
When asked what could be done about the problem, he said, “I don’t know if there is anything that can be done.”
“Of course there is some dust from your own brakes, but it’s minimal. It’s the cars in front, it’s always going to be there. When you sneeze at any point after the race it comes out black, so year after year, I’m not sure. what it does to your body. No idea.”
“I don’t think anyone has looked into it. I’d rather breathe clean air, but I don’t know what can be done.”
The problem is not new. Former driver Mika Salo first highlighted the problem of brake dust almost 20 years ago , after revealing that doctors found a high content of carbon dust in his lungs during an operation he underwent following his retirement from racing. F1 in 2002.
