For the Rookies
If you’ve been following Formula One, you may have noticed a racing car sometimes leading the grid around a few laps during the Grand Prix race. Who drives the car? Why is it needed? Guest writer Rami is here to give you the answers.
Image taken from: https://www.autoblog.nl/files/2021/03/aston-martin-safety-car-00015.jpg
If you watch Formula One, you might be familiar with the Safety Car, a non-racing car brought out when an incident occurs on track. Yellow flags are waved and there is to be a no over-taking rule enforced, meaning speeds are slower than the usual racing. The safety car can be called out for a number of many reasons, including bad weather, a collision or obstruction on track. Slowing down the speed is pre-determined to ensure time for marshals to clear the track and to maximise driver safety, with speed usually around 137.5mph. Since 2000, the safety car has been driven by Bernd Mayländer and is accompanied by someone to assist with communications. If bad weather conditions arise, Richard Darker is on hand behind the wheel to assess and analyse for any necessary race adjustments.
The first safety car (In F1, not all motorsport) was used in the Canadian Grand Prix in 1973, where a yellow 914 Porsche was called out for bad weather conditions. Though the car came out in front of the wrong car and thus, made declaring a winner extremely difficult for this race. Safety cars were then formally introduced to the sport in 1993 after trials in France and Britain. Since then, the safety car has primarily been a Mercedes and now with for the first time since 1996, an Aston Martin joins the car portfolio of responsibility in 2021.
In 2007, a new rule was implemented where until the safety car had all the F1 cars lined up behind it in the correct order, the pit lane would be closed until they passed it along with a 10 second time penalty to those who ignored this rule. However, in 2009, this rule was replaced with a software that calculates a minimum lap time that drivers would have to stay out on track for and if not complied with, they would have to face a penalty. Since 2012, back-markers are allowed to un-lap themselves under the safety car.
After seasons of testing, in 2015, the virtual safety car (VSC) was introduced for lesser incidents, when a full safety car was not necessary. Under the virtual safety car, drivers have to reduce their speed by 35% of their average speed in dry conditions. This appears on their steering wheel dash to ensure it is seen and for them to adhere to. They can also only lap drivers if done so very safely under the virtual safety car.
Current safety cars are the Mercedes-AMG GT R and the Aston Martin Vantage.
Alongside the Safety Car, you see the emergency car personnel in a Mercedes-AMG 63 S Estate or Aston Martin DBX as the Medical car piloted by Alan van der Merwe.
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