The FIA has published the first guidelines for how biometric data should be collected and used in motor sport.

The new guidelines regulate how competitor-related biometric data can be used in various capacities such as human performance monitoring, medical and rescue, and for marketing and entertainment purposes.

Traditionally, sports teams use biometric data to monitor an athlete’s fitness and performance, by looking at their heart rate, blood oxygen level, hydration level, body temperature and other factors. Biometric information is growing in its area of use in motor sport, with medical and rescue teams benefitting from its safety applications both trackside and for post-accident investigation.

For instance, in Formula One and Formula E, drivers wear biometric gloves, which monitor their heart rate and blood oxygen level, to help medical teams quickly assess their condition in the case of an accident. TV crews can also display biometric data during broadcasts to show the physical condition of a driver as they battle on track.

These new guidelines detail how biometric information should be protected in all scenarios, to ensure that it is used ethically and does not breach privacy laws. This follows the introduction of FIA standard 8868-2018, which all biometric devices must meet to be used during FIA competitions.

Adam Baker, FIA Safety Director, said: “The use of biometric data has provided great benefit for our continued research into motor sport safety. We are pleased to introduce a set of guidelines that detail how this data should be used, to give confidence to competitors that their data is being handled securely and ethically.”