After nearly witnessing a crash between Haas driver Mick Schumacher and AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda behind the safety car in Australia, the FIA has opened the door for rule revisions on how closely they can be followed. single-seaters on the track.
However, after the Australian Grand Prix, several drivers expressed frustration with the speed of the Aston Martin Safety Car, claiming that it is not as fast as the Mercedes.
World champion Max Verstappen went so far as to describe the safety car as a “turtle”, adding that its lack of pace caused tire temperatures to drop dramatically.
“ There is very little grip and the safety car was driving so slow it was like a turtle. Unbelievable,” said the Red Bull driver. “I don’t understand why we have to drive so slowly.”
“For sure the Mercedes car is faster because of the extra aerodynamics, because this Aston Martin is really slow. It needs more grip, because our tires were stone cold.
“It’s pretty terrible the way we’re driving behind the Safety Car right now,” he added.
Given this situation, the FIA does not consider the speed difference between the Mercedes and Aston Martin safety cars to be a problem.
In a statement posted on Twitter, motorsport’s governing body said the safety car’s priority is not how fast it goes, but rather the ability to help keep the race going safely.
“ Following recent comments about the pace of the Safety Car, the FIA would like to reiterate that the main function of the car is of course not absolute speed, but rather the safety of the drivers and other members.”
“ The safety car procedures take into account multiple objectives, depending on the incident in question, therefore adjusting its pace depending on the activities that may be in progress on the tarmac.”
The FIA added that the maximum speed of this car was not defined by its technical aspects, but by what the race needs.
“ Therefore, the speed of the Safety Car is not limited by the capabilities of the Safety Cars, which are bespoke high-performance vehicles, prepared by two of the world’s leading manufacturers and equipped to face the conditions of the track at all times, driven by a hugely experienced and capable driver and co-driver.
“ The impact of safety car speed on the performance of the cars is a secondary consideration as the impact is equal between all drivers who, as is always the case, are responsible for driving safely at all times. according to the conditions of your car and the circuit”.
Following an investigation into the incident, stewards said the rule requiring drivers to stay within a specified distance of ten cars from each other would be discussed soon.
A statement from the stewards in Melbourne said: “It is clear that the speed and braking capabilities of F1 cars, especially in trying to maintain required tire and brake temperatures, are in tension with the gap behind the Safety Car. .
“This should be a point of emphasis in future driver briefings, to ensure drivers collectively agree on the best way to address this challenge before an unfortunate incident occurs.”
