Safety Cars are a vital factor in ensuring the optimal safety of everyone involved in a Grand Prix weekend. Their main job is to allow racing to continue following an on-track incident by limiting the speed of the cars to ensure minimal disruption. Safety cars have been an essential aspect of F1 for decades, but what is the history behind it?
When were Safety Cars first introduced?
The FIA first introduced Safety Cars at the 1973 Canadian Grand Prix. This was done in response to the prior incidents caused that weekend by extremely poor weather conditions. It was originally supplied by Porsche, with the Porsche 914 being the first model of safety car seen at a race.
However, the first-ever Safety Car didn’t come without teething problems. With the Porsche 914 being sent out to respond to an incident, confusion was caused when the driver misjudged the race leader. The pack was not led from the front. This inevitably meant that teams struggled to decipher who had won the race upon its conclusion. It took the FIA several hours to decide that McLaren‘s Peter Revson had won the 1973 Canadian Grand Prix.
Who supplies Safety Cars in modern F1?
Since the 2021 season, Mercedes-AMG and Aston Martin have been the main suppliers of the Safety Cars for F1. Mercedes has been the longest-serving supplier of Safety Cars, with a partnership having been in place with the FIA since 1996. As of 2021, Aston Martin has similarly supplied Medical and Safety cars for F1 and continues to do so today.
Unlike regular cars, these Safety Cars have special modifications that adapt to the demands of a Formula One race track. Aston Martin has particularly highlighted the changes they’ve made to their Safety Cars, calling it their ‘Vantage’ model. Its adaptations include additional screens and a unique center console switch pack, especially for the FIA. Furthermore, an extended front splitter and rear wing have been incorporated to allow the car to reach speeds closer to the range of an F1 car.
When is an F1 Safety Car needed, and who deploys them?
A Safety Car can be deployed for multiple reasons across an F1 race. If debris needs to be recovered by Marshalls, a Safety Car is sent out to slow down the cars on track so that it can be carried out safely. Similarly, if a driver crashes, it will also be sent out to ensure the car and driver can be safely taken away from the track to prevent further disruption. Overall, a Safety Car’s main role is to limit interruption to the race in situations that do not warrant a red flag. Under a Safety Car, drivers are not allowed to overtake one another to avoid additional incidents.
The FIA is responsible for assessing whether a Safety Car should be deployed or not. Once the Race Director sends it out, the drivers are informed immediately and must decrease their speed. Bernd Maylander, who finished 2nd in the 1999 Le Mans, has driven the safety car since 2000.
What is a Virtual Safety Car (VSC)?
A VSC allows the FIA to slow cars down quicker than if they were to deploy a physical Safety Car. Multiple signs are placed around the track that immediately inform drivers of a VSC. Unlike a physical Safety Car, cars do not close the gap between their competitors under a VSC. Despite this, however, a VSC doesn’t give teams the wider pit-stop opportunity that a Safety Car does.
