F1 News
Will F1-cars become the new safety car?
- GPblog.com
Television images do not always do justice to the situation. Once again in Japan last weekend, it became clear that reality can be quite different from impressions given. After the Grand Prix was halted due to rain, the safety car went around the track for several laps. It gave the impression that the spray was not too bad and that the track could be used.
In reality, it was unfeasible for F1 drivers to race because visibility through the water was very poor. But how do you know if it is doable or not for a Formula 1 car? The drivers themselves have found something on that, reports Motorsport.com. They want to act as a kind of safety car themselves in similar cases.
Information rounds
The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) met as a result of the events in Singapore and Japan, and this is how the idea of having so-called 'information laps' was born. When it rains, drivers would go onto the track to determine - possibly with a safety car in front - what the situation is really like. By doing this at different times, it becomes clear faster when it is really responsible to race. Finally, it gives the race management direct feedback from the drivers.
According to GPDA president Alex Wurz, the option could be for the race committee to send all 20 cars onto the track, so that the drivers can see in one lap whether racing is possible. If it is not, they will go onto the track together again at a later time. There are also negative sides to this plan, though, as a driver should obviously not spin off the track. Moreover, 20 drivers also means 20 opinions. But, according to Wurz, the idea could still be valuable for race management.