After the fatal accident Jules Bianchi the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, Form one has developed and introduced a new virtual safety car system for the upcoming racing season that slows drivers down during caution without the need for a physical pace car on the track. This video from here Chain Bear F1 on YouTube explains how the virtual safety car system works in Formula 1:
As the name suggests, the virtual safety car is not a real car. Instead, it’s a lap time set by the FIA for each circuit, which drivers must carefully follow, similar to how a real safety car would regulate the speed of the drivers on the track.
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The virtual safety car lap time is roughly 30 percent slower than what the FIA considers a standard race lap. The video example shows the virtual safety car’s lap time at the Albert Park Circuit is 1:54:00, which is about a third slower than the standard race lap time of 1:28:00.
However, in order to maintain the differences between the drivers, the virtual safety car forces a 30 percent speed reduction on all sections of the track, and not just overall. The stages are determined by the organizing sectors, 20 organizing columns divide the sectors.
The driver’s time in these sectors is measured every 50 meters and the driver is informed of how far they are from the time of the virtual safety car so that he can make the appropriate adjustments.
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Drivers must make sure they are slower than the virtual safety car at least once in each sector, and staying as close to the virtual safety car’s lap time as possible is obviously ideal to avoid losing race position if the caution is lifted.
Drivers must fall behind the virtual safety car time when the race turns green again and receive a 10-15 second warning that the race is about to resume. If the driver is not slower than the safety car in one of the sectors or before the race resumes, he will receive a penalty.
The virtual safety car is beneficial because it can instantly slow down a field of cars, can be used to maintain gaps between competing cars without the cars needing to rally, and for as long as necessary without any potentially dangerous transition moments when a physical safety car enters or steps out onto the field.
It is an intelligent system that provides better protection for fellow riders, medical staff and cleaning staff, while not compromising the rider’s position and has a significant potential impact on the outcome of the race.
