F3 driver allowed to take phone in car on medical grounds · RaceFans

Formula 1 has strict regulations governing what teams are permitted to have on or in their cars during sessions – and junior formulae are no different.

But ahead of this weekend’s opening round of the FIA Formula 3 championship the stewards have granted one driver an unusual exemption on medical grounds. The driver, Christian Mansell of Campos, has been allowed to carry a mobile phone in his car.

Mansell – no relation to 1992 Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell – has type one diabetes. As a result, he and his trainer have to keep a close eye on his blood sugar concentration which is at risk of falling to dangerous levels if not regularly monitored.

In order to reduce the risk of that happening while Mansell is in the car, the team has requested special permission to have a mobile phone installed to transmit his blood sugar data to his trainer in the paddock in real time.

Only devices homologated by the FIA for use in the series are allowed to be used on Formula 3 cars. Mobile phones are one of many devices that are not permitted. However, even though the risk of Mansell’s blood sugar levels falling into a dangerous zone are low, the stewards have granted Mansell and Campos an exemption to allow Mansell’s driver coach to monitor his blood sugar levels and intervene if any safety risk develops.

Other drivers with diabetes have competed in the top levels of motorsport. IndyCar driver Conor Daly has the same condition, as does his former rival Charlie Kimball.

While the FIA medical delegate recognised that Mansell is “medically fit to compete notwithstanding his diabetes condition,” the stewards agreed that it would be reasonable and safe to “allow the monitoring system he is familiar with to be used during competition in the manner suggested.” Campos will be held responsible for the proper use of the phone under the terms of the exemption and risk severe penalties if the device is used to transmit any data other than that they have been granted an exemption for.

Mansell’s exemption will only be applied for this weekend’s racing in Bahrain. Campos is expected to propose a “acceptable solution” to monitoring Mansell’s blood sugar levels in time for the next round of the series in Australia at the beginning of April.