What’s it and the way does it work?

The Method 1 security automotive is a crucial a part of a race and may be steadily seen if there’s a crash or an incident on the observe.

There are two kinds of security automotive, together with a bodily automotive on the observe or a digital security automotive (VSC), which may be deployed to regulate the vehicles while automobiles are recovered, or particles is faraway from the observe. 

Compacting the sphere can produce added pleasure to a race and may drastically change a group’s race technique. The aim of a security automotive in F1 is to decelerate the vehicles on the observe till a scenario is resolved, akin to a automotive that must be retrieved or particles on the observe. 

What’s a security automotive in F1? 

The security automotive in F1 is a bodily automotive which is introduced onto the observe to restrict the velocity of vehicles. It circulates at a particular velocity in order that marshals can come out safely to retrieve damaged vehicles or decide particles off the observe. The slower velocity of the security automotive bunches up the drivers behind the security automotive, and no vehicles are allowed to overhaul until they’re instructed to take action. 

The security automotive can be used throughout a formation lap of the race if there’s moist climate to decelerate the drivers and forestall an accident.  

When the security automotive is deployed drivers will likely be proven yellow flags and huge illuminated ‘SC’ screens flash on the aspect of the observe to point {that a} security automotive is in motion and that they have to decelerate. 

When all incidents have been cleared the security automotive will return to the pitlane on the finish of the lap and the drivers will likely be given the sign to proceed racing firstly of the subsequent lap. 

When was the security automotive first launched? 

The security automotive was first utilized in Method 1 in 1973 on the Canadian Grand Prix. A yellow Porsche 914 was introduced onto the observe after poor climate situations prompted numerous incidents. The usage of the primary security automotive proved controversial after the motive force positioned his automotive in entrance of the mistaken competitor, which prompted part of the sphere to incorrectly be one lap down. This resulted in it taking a number of hours to determine the winner of the race. 

The security automotive was formally launched in 1993, following trials on the French and British Grand Prix in 1992. 

Photograph by: Motorsport Photographs

The Fiat Tempra 16V Security Automobile leads Damon Hill, Williams FW15C Renault

The security automotive has been quite a lot of totally different fashions because it was first carried out in 1993. Between its implementation and 1995, the automotive modified manufacturers all through the seasons relying on location, together with a Lamborghini Countach for the Monaco Grand Prix and the Lamborghini Diablo for the Canadian Grand Prix. 

Over time many vehicles have been used as a security automotive together with a Fiat Tempra 16v on the 1993 Brazilian Grand Prix and a Renault Clio on the 1996 Argentina Grand Prix. In 1996, the security automotive was standardised with a Mercedes-Benz being introduced in to make sure efficiency. Aston Martin then cut up the security automotive duties from 2021. 

What’s a digital security automotive in F1?

The digital security automotive (VSC) 1 doesn’t carry a bodily automotive onto the observe and received’t bunch the sphere of vehicles collectively just like the common security automotive – it’s as a substitute a set time that the drivers should follow. With everybody driving on the similar velocity the hole between drivers stays the identical, making it safer for marshals and fewer disruptive than a daily security automotive. 

The race director will use a VSC in the event that they determine that any restoration work may be carried out with the drivers operating at a slower tempo. 

Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs

A VSC board on the doorway to Mirabeau Bas

Drivers will likely be proven yellow flags in addition to VSC flashing on illuminated indicators across the observe. A delta time will seem on every driver’s steering wheel, which tells them how shut they’re to the VSC time. The delta reduces lap tempo to round 30-40% of a traditional race tempo and drivers should not allowed to overhaul one another. 

The digital security automotive was launched in 2015 following the loss of life of Jules Bianchi on the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. The FIA’s accident panel beneficial the implementation of the VSC primarily based on a ‘Sluggish Zone’ system that was used within the Le Mans 24 Hours.

What mannequin are the F1 security vehicles?

Two security vehicles are in operation throughout the 2023 F1 season, a Mercedes-AMG GT Black Sequence and an Aston Martin Vantage. The vehicles alternate what races they’re used for.

Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs

Bernd Maylander, Security Automobile Driver

The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Sequence has 730bhp which can provide the automotive high speeds of 202mph. The Aston Martin Vantage is barely much less highly effective with 528bhp and high speeds of 195mph.

Who drives the security automotive in F1?

Bernd Maylander has been driving the security automotive in F1 since 2000 and has led over 700 laps within the collection. Maylander is a 52-year-old German driver who beforehand raced within the DTM and completed second within the 1999 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Maylander is joined in his automotive by a co-driver that assists with any operations and communication. The pair are required to remain within the security automotive all through all the race in order that they are often rapidly referred to as into motion if wanted.

What are the security automotive F1 guidelines in 2023?

The FIA modified the F1 security automotive guidelines on the finish of 2021 following the controversial restart on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Within the final race of the season, solely the lapped vehicles between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton on the observe had been allowed to overhaul the security automotive however not others, which allowed the pair to race and noticed Verstappen overtake Hamilton on the final lap.

The overtake secured Verstappen his first F1 world championship title of his profession and stopped Hamilton from securing his eighth. Because the controversial win, the rule for lapped vehicles has modified and now they have to all cross the security automotive earlier than the race is restarted.

Rules had been additionally modified to make sure that drivers remained a full automotive size behind the automotive in entrance. It got here after Verstappen briefly drove forward of Hamilton earlier than the ultimate lap.

Verstappen tried the transfer on a number of events throughout 2022, which resulted in a rule change. Race director Niels Wittich up to date occasion notes to clampdown on such strikes. The replace learn: “With a purpose to keep away from the probability of accidents earlier than the security automotive returns to the pits, from the purpose at which the lights on the automotive are turned out, drivers should proceed at a tempo which entails no erratic acceleration or braking nor any manoeuvre which is prone to endanger different drivers or impede the restart.”

Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs

Alex Albon, Williams FW45, Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Group, are result in the medical automotive after a crash firstly

What’s the distinction between the security automotive and the medical automotive?

The FIA medical automotive arrives on the scene of any accidents throughout a Method 1 race to make sure the security and well being of the drivers. The Aston Martin DBX707 or Mercedes-AMG C 63 S is pushed by Alan van der Merwe and could have a FIA licensed physician on board, which is often Dr Ian Roberts.

The medical automotive will not be as quick as the security automotive however should rapidly reply to any crashes on observe. The automotive is stuffed with medical tools which may help a driver if they’re injured.

A distinction between the security automotive and the medical automotive is that the medical automotive will make at the least one lap firstly of all grands prix. The automotive will line-up on the grid behind the drivers throughout the opening lap which permits the medical automotive to be nearer to the scene if there’s an incident on the primary lap.