Nico Rosberg, Formula 1 world champion in 2016, has suggested reviewing the rules regarding pit stops during virtual safety car (VSC) periods. This proposal arises from the recent race at the Spanish GP, where Lando Norris, McLaren driver, lost a likely victory due to a VSC misalignment.
In the competition held at the Madrid circuit, Norris started from pole position and built a lead over Mercedes’s Kimi Antonelli. However, during the VSC period to recover Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin, Norris entered the pits just after passing the entrance, losing the opportunity for a more advantageous stop.
Ultimately, he finished third, behind Antonelli, who secured the win, and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.
On the The F1 Show program on Sky Sports, Rosberg commented on this situation and laid out his ideas to prevent it from happening in the future. ‘It’s nothing but bad luck. With the VSC and the safety car, there’s always a certain element of luck or misfortune. It’s exhausting when a driver deserves to win and loses it because of these circumstances,’ Rosberg stated.
The champion acknowledged that it is essential to avoid long periods of cars behind the safety car in races. ‘For this reason, the VSC was implemented, to minimize downtime for minor situations,’ he explained. Rosberg noted that the current penalties for pit stops during the VSC are not effective enough, as the lost time is less when speeds are reduced.
Among his proposals, he points to the possibility of closing the pit exit during a VSC or significantly reducing the speed limit during these moments. This would ensure that all drivers lose a similar race time, regardless of whether they choose to go into the pits or remain on the track.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
