A virtual safety car (VSC), in the world of Formula One racing, is basically a way to slow down the cars without actually bringing a safety car onto the track.
Imagine a situation where there’s a minor incident, like a bit of debris on the track, but nothing major enough to warrant a full safety car deployment. This is where the VSC comes in.
Here’s how it works:
- No actual car on the track: Unlike a safety car, there’s no orange and black striped Mercedes speeding around to slow the racers down.
- Slower lap times: Instead, the FIA (the governing body of Formula One) sets a specific lap time for the track, which is about 30% slower than a normal racing lap.
- Drivers see the signal: The racers are shown a “VSC” sign on the side of the track and on their steering wheels, letting them know they need to slow down.
The benefit of a VSC is that it neutralizes the situation without bunching up the racers like a regular safety car does. Drivers have to maintain the same distance between each other as they did before the VSC.