The procedure for the virtual safety car clarified

Following the dramatic accident of Jules Bianchi on October 5 in Japan, the FIA ​​tested a virtual safety car afterwards. The federation detailed more precisely how this system works.

The procedure will be initiated when double yellow flags are displayed on part of the circuit and competitors and officials may be in danger, but the situation does not require the entry onto the track of the physical safety car. As soon as the order is sent by the race director, a notice will appear on the official message system and FIA light panels will display the three letters VSC (Virtual Safety Car in English). No driver may use the pit lane, except to change tires.

The pilots must reduce their speed and respect a minimum time, under penalty of sanctions. When the race director decides to end the procedure, a “VSC Ending” message will be sent to the teams and between ten and fifteen seconds later, the letters VSC on the light panels will be displayed in green, a sign of the resumption of the race.