Several racers of royal races, perhaps, will be forced to carry out early tests without use of the new helmets certified according to the new standard of FIA.
Since 2019 in royal races the helmets made according to the new standard in which the frontal part for additional protection of racers is considerably strengthened have to be used surely.
All four suppliers of helmets in ""Formula One"" - Stilo, Bell Racing, with Schuberth and Arai - were involved in researches and development of new standard 8860-2018.
However the Arai company underwent only the part of testing of FIA so far and didn't receive certificates of conformity on the helmets yet.
As journalists of the Motorsport.com edition knew the company won't manage to undergo all coordination prior to the beginning of early tests as it is about captious check of the product which has to meet the highest standards.
According to the edition the pilot of Ferrari Sebastian Vettel, both racers of Red Bull Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasli and also the pilot of Renault Daniel Ricciardo use Arai helmets.
The company expects that it will manage to receive necessary homologation prior to the beginning of the new season in Australia on March 17.
However clients of other producers are also not convinced that they will be able to use new helmets already on tests.
Only Stilo that made the first copy even last summer, has homologation of new ST5 helmet for all sizes.
According to information from FIA, Schuberth which delivers helmets to four racers has homologation only on the average size.
Bell that will provide helmets for ten other racers, has homologations to the 56th size, however on the website of the company options to the 61st size are available.
It can influence the choice of racers who wanted to use services of Bell, however now for them there is no necessary size in the list of omologovany.
Use of helmets of necessary homologation on tests is in the gray zone of rules.
Teams and racers at test sessions have to carry out sports regulations of royal races, however in it there are no requirements concerning helmets.
So far it is unknown what helmets racers will use: those that were made last year, or just by helmets which didn't receive homologation yet.
When in Arai asked whether it will be authorized to racers to use last year's helmets, answered there: "The prototype of the new helmet is already made. We didn't receive homologation yet, but after internal tests we are sure of quality of the product".
The main risk is that pilots who will use the neomologovany helmet can be traumatized in accident on tests.
In new helmets the top edge of the visor was lowered by 10 mm to reduce vulnerability after hit of splinters and also to improve absorption of energy from kick.