F1 Safety Car explained: Full or virtual, and how it all works

Sam Hall
Sunday 5 March 2023 11:41 - Updated: 11:41

The safety car is one of the two most important cars in the F1 paddock, with the other being the medical car.

As its name suggests, the safety car is a vehicle that is deployed to the track in order to control the field if and when there is a need to bunch up the pack to allow for vital recovery work to be completed.

However, there is the side effect that a compacted field of up to 20 cars will often spark some added on-track excitement, something that can sometimes transform even the dullest of races into a feast for the senses.

Never more was this true than at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but more on that later.

Rules: What is a safety car, and when is it deployed?

The first instance in which the safety car can be used is during the formation lap in the case of wet weather. This was seen at the controversial 2021 Belgian Grand Prix and more recently, last year in Monaco.

To signal this, orange lights are illuminated on the start gantry 10 minutes ahead of the race start time. In these instances, it is mandatory for drivers to fit full wet tyres.

These laps count towards the race distance given the limited fuel loads carried by the cars.

During a race, the FIA sporting regulations dicate: "The safety car may be brought into operation to neutralise a sprint session or a race upon the order of the clerk of the course.

"It will be used only if Competitors or officials are in immediate physical danger on or near the track but the circumstances are not such as to necessitate suspending (through red flags) the sprint session or the race."

The introduction of the safety car onto the track is signalled through the use of yellow flags and safety car boards – the letters 'SC' are also displayed on the illuminated signs.

When it is safe to do so, the race director will send a message to all teams instructing lapped cars to overtake the field and join the back of the train. The safety car will return to the pits at the end of the lap the follows this signal being issued.

A following instruction will then be given to inform that the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the current lap, at which point the lights on top of the vehicle will be extinguished as a direct reference to the lead driver.

What is a Virtual Safety Car?

The virtual safety car is different in that it does not bunch the field together. If this system is used, the race director has determined that any recovery work can safely be carried out with drivers lapping at a significantly reduced pace.

The, again, is shown through the use of yellow flags and VSC being shown on the illuminated signs.

Drivers are required to stick to a specific lap delta that is between 30-40 per cent off their normal pace.

F1 safety car and pit stops – how it works

At most tracks, a pit stop in normal green flag conditions will see drivers lose between 20-25 seconds to rivals.

But with cars lapping at significantly reduced pace under either safety car or VSC conditions, this time loss is significantly reduced.

This can advantage or disadvantage any driver and is very much down to luck.

Let's not mention the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix too loudly at this point!

Abu Dhabi 2021: Michael Masi and the most famous safety car of all

We said we'd get back to here!

The confusion and controversy of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was caused by a blurring of the lines between the unofficial 'let them race' principle that had been requested by teams, and the regulations.

When Nicholas Latifi crashed on lap 53, Lewis Hamilton led Max Verstappen by 11.9 seconds. At this point, both drivers were on hard tyres.

Verstappen elected to pit to bolt on a set of soft tyres, something that put him behind some traffic but maintained his second position. Hamilton could also have stopped but did not.

At this point, it was not mandatory in the regulations for race director Michael Masi to allow the lapped cars to unlap themselves, meaning that he could restart the race at the drop of a hat.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley were both on the radio to Masi arguing their cases either not for resuming the race or for allowing lapped cars past. In this respect, Wolff has since conceded this communication went too far.

On lap 57 of 58, Masi then indicated that ONLY the five lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen could overtake. Ignoring the requirement to to complete an additional lap before returning to green flag conditions, Masi immediately followed this with the announcement that the safety car would return to the pits at the end of that lap.

He later defended this decision saying that teams had previously agreed it was desirable for races to end under green flag conditions - this referencing the let them race principle.

The last-lap shootout for world title honours was subsequently won by Verstappen with Mercedes electing not to pursue a lengthy legal procedure, despite initially protesting the outcome of the race.

As mentioned, the regulations have been cleared up and the grey areas that allowed the confusion have been eradicated.

How often does the F1 safety car come out?

There were 25 safety car interruptions and 18 VSCs in the 2022 season.

What model is the F1 safety car?

As was the case in 2022, there are again two safety cars in operation this term with Mercedes and Aston Martin sharing duties.

Mercedes supplies the $325,000 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series while Aston Martin offers the $146,986 Vantage.

Both cars are capable of setting extremely fast lap times by normal standards but given the other worldly pace of F1 cars, it is not uncommon to hear drivers venting frustrations at the 'slow' speeds.

The Mercedes registers impressive power at 730bhp, a figure that sends it to a top speed of 202mph.

The more modest Aston Martin uses a 4-litre turbo V8 pumps to produce 528 bhp. This gives a top speed of 195mph.

Who drives the F1 safety car?

Bernd Maylander has been the F1 safety car driver since 2000. During his time behind the wheel, he has led over 700 laps in the sport.

The 51-year-old German previously raced in DTM and finished second in his class at the 1999 Le Mans 24 Hours.

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