Virtual Safety Car given the green light for 2015

Virtual Safety Car given the green light for 2015

It has been announced today that the Formula 1 teams and the FIA have given the green light for the introduction of the virtual safety car (VSC) in 2015, following successful late-season tests.

The push for a way of better controlled driver speed followed Jules Bianchi’s horrific crash at the Japanese Grand Prix saw that there were trials of a virtual safety car system (where a speed limit is imposed around the track for incidents that do not require a full safety car) which began in United States GP practice.

After initial driver concerns about being distracted by focusing on keeping to the speed limit were eased, the FIA was satisfied that the system could be pushed into use.

The conviction that the VSC was the right way to go was reinforced when trials of a stricter system (that imposed a speed limit in a specific track sector rather than around the whole lap) met with disproval from drivers following a test in Abu Dhabi.

In a press interview today, an FIA spokesman said the following on the VSC being adapted for 2015:-

'Most of the drivers preferred the VSC approach, because [with the single sector] they were concerned about braking from high speed down to the slow speed limit.

'Some drivers were worried they might not see it, and some drivers were worried they might see it too late. And these large differences of speed could cause some difficulties.

'Plus, the fact that there was not a specific line on the track to show drivers where it started could give rise to endless penalties. Overall, everyone prefers the VSC approach.'

From what the FIA spokesperson has stated to the media today, it is clear that the VSC approach is the best option for the teams and the drivers to come forward despite the concerns at first. Even though the drivers concerns were justified, it would seem that these concerns have been met to satisfaction and that the drivers feel that this approach is the best way to go for 2015 with all parties happy to have this adapted into the regulations starting from next season.

With the FIA happy with the VSC trials over the last few races, it met with all of the teams at the Abu Dhabi GP to gauge opinion over its introduction. It was decided that the system should come into use for the start of 2015. There are provisional regulations have already been drafted into place and once these rules are approved by the teams, then they will be put into the 2015 F1 sporting regulations.

It is understood that to ensure the VSC system does not throw up any unexpected surprises next year and that further trial runs will take place at the pre-season tests that begin at Jerez on February 1. But what is clear is that something needed to be done about the issue especially after Jules Bianchi's crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.

With the news today, it is clear that the teams and the FIA feel that the Virtual Safety Car is the correct way to address this issue for all the teams and drivers in the sport currently and all we can do is see if the system works for 2015 and also to the standard that it needs to meet by all concerned too.