What is wrong with the safety car rule?

[WhiteBlue]

The problem is the convoluted safety car rules, and the fact drivers have to make split second decisions based on them while trying to run a race. The rules need to be more cut and dry.

I agree with some people who say that the current safety car rules are unnecessary complicated and badly thought out.

One of the problems in the past were incidents when the closure of the pit lane during the safety car disavantaged a driver who ran out of petrol. The rules were adjusted to take care of that but in the process they got unnecessarily convoluted.

The teams decided to keep these rules regardless of the refueling ban. They may have thought that it would spice up the action. But in my opinion this action is artificial and distortive to the racing.

With enough race fuel on board for everyone the pit entry should be closed as soon as a safety car is dispatched and should only be re opened after the race is re started. Drivers should also be prohibited to entry the pit entry after a safety car is announced.

This would prevent a race to the pits and endangering the marshals who are exposed when they help a driver from a damaged car or clear the track.

[ISLAMATRON]

It makes sense doesn't it? That is why it will take years for the SWG to adopt it, it makes too much sense.

[mep]

The rules have already improved since they got rid of this pit lane closed ---. In no race they managed to get it working properly furthermore they had these stupid troubles to catch the leader and even allowed lapped cars to overtake SC and then race again. Such things are unbelievable.

1. First and most important rule is you should never be allowed to overtake a safety car.

2. SC is deployed when, Marshal wave yellow flags and hold SC sign out.

3. All drivers immediately stop racing then. Means they just cruse around on some defined max speed and don’t overtake each other. If some overtaking accidentally happens the leading car just gives back the gained position back or will be punished with drive trough.

4. The SC itself will be released in a way that it can wait on track behind the pit exit for the current race leader which might come out of pit or be still on track but it will always catch the leader.

5. All cars row up behind the SC according to their current race position. There are no lapped cars between.

4. Pit stays open all the time; no lights go to red suddenly because this is not predictable by the teams.

5. SC will come in after the lights went off, the yellow flags will be replaced by green ones and the SC sings disappear.

6. When SC comes in overtaking then is allowed from the white SC line on.

7. When there is still some danger on track during last lap, SC will come to pits but yellow flags and SC sings stay out so racing is not allowed.
When during last lap SC can come in it will do so, yellow flags will be reduced by green ones and racing is allowed from SC line to finish line.
8. When the track is so heavily covered with debris or because of other reasons it is possible that the SC stops the field on starting grid according to their race position. The field can wait then until track is cleared, the SC will lead the field for another lap and go to pits then. During that time no refueling or tire changes are allowed. Generally no major changes on the cars are allowed except of parts damaged during accidents.

[WhiteBlue]

During that time no refueling or tire changes are allowed. Generally no major changes on the cars are allowed except of parts damaged during accidents.

It may have escaped your attention that re fueling is banned as of 2010. Therefore opening the pit lane during SC makes no sense but gives unnecessary complications.

[Ray]

Mep, the only thing I would add is that race control will line up every car in race order and then, and only then, will racing presume. NASCAR does it, it works. I understand slower cars are a part of racing but that is the true way to make sure that the SC period doesn't effectively screw drivers merely by chance.

[sknguy]

I voted to abolish pit stopping, except for damage repair. However, if there were pit stops allowed I'd at least like to see everyone stop racing during this period. If the safety car period is used to gain advantage? Then that's racing. And I think being allowed to race around the track to catch up to the train is racing. So, some manner of simply stopping the racing would be good, whether through full course speed limits or simply restarting as Ray mentioned, either would do.

[mike]

why dont we go back to old SC rules...like find the leader...and lapped cars get to unlap, since to cars need refueling.....for the race, why are we allow them to "rush" into the pits to get a free pit stop???

[WhiteBlue]

...since to cars need refueling.....for the race, why are we allow them to "rush" into the pits to get a free pit stop???

Yep, that is the question. The safety car is not supposed to be another element of luck to spice up the action. No free pit stops and the problem is solved.

[raymondu999]

I think the safety car is screwed up in terms of some rules this year. Monaco, now Valencia. It needs a serious revamp

[WhiteBlue]

The FIA must consider changing the rules before drivers begin to break them on a regular basis.

Stefano in an underhanded comment seems to agree with a rule change.

[myurr]

The problem I see with closing the pit lane is defining damage. Would Hamilton have been allowed to pit because of his damaged front wing? Would he have been allowed to change his tyres as well?

A puncture would clearly be damage, but what about a flat spotted tyre? Where do you draw the line?

To me there is no problem with opening the pit lane. Yes it introduces an element of luck, but so does rain, punctures, accidents collecting other drivers, racing closely with Webber, etc. F1 by it's nature includes an element of luck, so that in and of itself is not a problem.

For me the only change I would make would be for the safety car to wait at the end of the pit lane for the race leader and that all cars should form up at that point. If you're not the race leader you're allowed to pass the safety car. The drivers should then drive to their lap deltas until they form up in the train. There should be no unlapping yourself, it's just not necessary.

[WhiteBlue]

The problem I see with closing the pit lane is defining damage. Would Hamilton have been allowed to pit because of his damaged front wing? Would he have been allowed to change his tyres as well?

A puncture would clearly be damage, but what about a flat spotted tyre? Where do you draw the line?

I do not see a problem there. Anything that constitutes a safety hazard or make the car stop on track will entitle to a pit stop. You can use video or data to prove your damage later. Flat spot isn't a safety issue at safety car speed. You can change it after the pit lane opens again.

[myurr]

The problem I see with closing the pit lane is defining damage. Would Hamilton have been allowed to pit because of his damaged front wing? Would he have been allowed to change his tyres as well?

A puncture would clearly be damage, but what about a flat spotted tyre? Where do you draw the line?

I do not see a problem there. Anything that constitutes a safety hazard or make the car stop on track will entitle to a pit stop. You can use video or data to prove your damage later. Flat spot isn't a safety issue at safety car speed. You can change it after the pit lane opens again.

Surely that would depend on how bad the flat spot is? What if it's almost down to the canvas? With the safety car out it means by definition there is more chance of debris on the track, if your tyre is weakened does this mean you have more chance of a puncture? Isn't that unsafe? What if the vibrations at safety car speed are enough to weaken and damage the suspension? Why should you benefit from being able to change a damaged wing but not a damaged tyre?

The problem for Alonso wasn't that the pits were opened for other cars, it was that the safety car was deployed after Vettel had passed and arbitrarily picked up Hamilton and Alonso and then didn't let him passed for another minute. Either pick up the leader or let the other cars pass sooner rather than later.

[Richard]

I agree cars should be allowed to pit to repair damage. So, how about ...

SC deployed and pit lane entrance closed, exits stays open.
SC joins track
Cars line up behind SC, and get into race order
Then pit lane opens. Cars have a choice of staying out, or pitting but losing places.
SC stays out for 2 laps to allow cars to pit
SC comes in and racing resumes

[WhiteBlue]

Surely that would depend on how bad the flat spot is? What if it's almost down to the canvas? With the safety car out it means by definition there is more chance of debris on the track, if your tyre is weakened does this mean you have more chance of a puncture? Isn't that unsafe? What if the vibrations at safety car speed are enough to weaken and damage the suspension? Why should you benefit from being able to change a damaged wing but not a damaged tyre?

The problem for Alonso wasn't that the pits were opened for other cars, it was that the safety car was deployed after Vettel had passed and arbitrarily picked up Hamilton and Alonso and then didn't let him passed for another minute. Either pick up the leader or let the other cars pass sooner rather than later.

It isn't a real problem if we are just talking tyres. We had the same problem in 2005 and they sorted it out. You can delay the pit exit light for one lap to make sure no abuse is done.

The problem for Alonso was surely that the pits were open to following drivers. If they had been closed for all he had had no problem.